NASA lists five most dangerous asteroids headed earth's way from space
Space is littered with millions of flying pieces of rock which have been known to obliterate entire species.
The last time a meteor struck earth was only 2013, and the chances of it happening again aren't as slim as you may think. According to NASA, there are several asteroids right now which could pose a danger.
The organisation keeps a monitoring system over asteroids to prevent and mitigate disasters on the scale of the Chicxulub impactor meteor which caused the death of nonavian dinosaurs and about three-quarters of Earth's species some 66million years ago.
The Sentry impact-monitoring system, run by NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), keeps an eye on potentially dangerous asteroids that could hit Earth in the future. Here are the five asteroids that pose the greatest risk to our planet. However, there might be others hiding behind the sun that we don't know about yet.
Asteroid 1979 XB (NASA)1979 XB
Like many of the asteroids on our list, this one doesn't have the most memorable name. But a strike from 1979 XB would certainly leave a lasting memory - if you survive it, that is. The flying rock formation has a calculated weight of 390million tons and measures nearly half a mile wide.
Green comet last seen by Neanderthals 50,000 years ago to fly past earth tonight
Scientists first spotted it in December 1979. It's on course to come close to earth on December 14, 2113, when it has a 1 in 1.8million chance of hitting us directly. Such a collision could release the same energy as a 30billion ton TNT bomb, potentially wiping out entire countries.
2007 FT3
This huge asteroid weighs up at 54million tones and could cause massive regional damage, although not quite enough to wipe us out completely. It's currently defined as a "lost asteroid" as it hasn't been spotted since 2007. While a possible strike would only be in seven years' time in 2030, NASA predicts this would be a 1 in 10 million chance. It's actually due to come close again next year on October 5, but this would be with an even slimmer chance of hitting us at 1 in 11.5million.
Asteroid 2023 TL4 (NASA)2023 TL4
This 47million ton beast was only discovered this year, but was immediately pushed up to one of the most potentially hazardous in the observable universe. Observations of 2023 TL4 last month have allowed NASA experts to calculate it has a 1 in 181,000 chance of hitting us, and if so, this would be on October 10 2110.
29075 (1950 DA)
Venturing up to the second-scariest asteroid in our periphery, the pithily-title 29075 (1950 DA) was lost for 50 years after it was first discovered in 1950. If it hits us, this would release enough energy to wreak global devastation and even wipe out humanity.
It's believed to be a loose-rubble-pile asteroid and has a 1 in 34,500 chance in hitting earth. But that won't be until March 16, 2880 - so don't hang on too tightly.
Asteroid Bennu hopefully won't be an issue in our lifetime (AFP via Getty Images)Bennu
Don't be fooled by the human-like name - this 0.3 mile wide asteroid weighs in at a whopping 74million tons. It was first discovered in September 1999 and is thought to pose the largest risk to humanity.
Thankfully, we won't need to worry about this one in our lifetime. Bennu will make its closest approach in 2182. It's believed the asteroid is the offshoot of a larger asteroid which broke up up to 2billion years ago, and now NASA scientists are learning as much as they can about the object.
If Bennu was to hit our planet, it's calculated it would devastate entire regions releasing the energy equivalent of 1.4billion tons of TNT. While this would flatten an entire city causing millions of deaths, it probably wouldn't be enough to cause global devastation akin to Netflix hit Don't Look Up.
99942 Apophis
Look, this one is unlikely to be a threat, but deserved a (dis)honourable mention regardless. Apophis already has a suitable apocalyptic name referring to Apep the Uncreator - the enemy of ancient Egyptian sun god Ra. It's easily one of the most hazardous out there2, although its status as one in earth's trajectory changed in 2021 when a radar observation managed to get a better constraint on its orbit.
Apophis currently poses no threat to earth within the next century. However, many will be able to spot it in 2029 when it passes within 20,000 miles of the planet - that's closer than some satellites.
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