To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Prepare Yourself For A Massive Monster Asteroid Heading For Planet Earth Today

Prepare Yourself For A Massive Monster Asteroid Heading For Planet Earth Today

Another threat to our planet.

Hamish Kilburn

Hamish Kilburn

The other day I wrote a story about a possible apocalypse on Earth which is expected next year. Well, the latest story to leave us a little twitchy is that a giant rock is coming our way in space.

Prepare yourselves because this could change how you decide to plan the rest of your day...

via GIPHY

Today, a 'monster' asteroid is heading for Earth.

My deadline for this piece is rather strict as, according to the Daily Star, the asteroid will be coming very close to the planet we call home.

via GIPHY

Scientists estimate that the rock - named 2004 BO41 after the year it was discovered - will make what NASA are calling a 'near Earth pass' this afternoon.

Despite it passing us by 7.3 million miles, it is considered a close call because of the sheer size of it in relation to our solar system.

Okay, we can relax for now. However, stay on the edge of your seat because, although this asteroid will probably miss, NASA believe that another much smaller rock - called QL44 - is on a disturbingly unclear flight path heading in our direction.



Image credit: Barcroft images

It estimates that the 61-metre-long rock will race past Earth at a speed of 31,000 mph on September 17.

You're right to worry because experts believe that even a meteor as small as that could have the same impact as several nuclear bombs exploding in London.

Near-Earth asteroids are being found more frequently than ever before. What's worse is that experts only know the whereabouts of about 10 percent of them.

"NASA has also made asteroid detection a top priority, and are developing strategies for identifying asteroids that could pose a risk to our planet," said a spokesman for the space agency. "In fact, as best as we can tell, no large object is likely to strike the Earth any time in the next several hundred years."

So we're safe for now, maybe. I don't know, live your life - enjoy the time we have got left.

Featured image credit: PA

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Nasa, Asteroid