In Pics: Plane-sized asteroid speeding towards Earth! Clocked at 47556 kmph by NASA

NASA has issued a warning that an asteroid, which is nearly as big as a commercial aircraft is speeding towards Earth today. This asteroid has been classified as a Potentially Hazardous Object by NASA. Will this space rock impact the planet?

Asteroids have been responsible for some of the biggest events in history. From the Chelyabinsk disaster that claimed many lives to the meteor which caused the extinction of dinosaurs millions of years ago, whenever meteors have crashed on Earth, they have impacted lives. (Pixabay)

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1/6 Asteroids have been responsible for some of the biggest events in history. From the Chelyabinsk disaster that claimed many lives to the meteor which caused the extinction of dinosaurs millions of years ago, whenever meteors have crashed on Earth, they have impacted lives. (Pixabay)

Planetary Defense Coordination Office is responsible for monitoring the skies and keeping a watch on various Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). If any NEO comes within 8 million kilometers of Earth, the organization red flags the NEO and issues an alert. (Pixabay)

2/6 Planetary Defense Coordination Office is responsible for monitoring the skies and keeping a watch on various Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). If any NEO comes within 8 million kilometers of Earth, the organization red flags the NEO and issues an alert. (Pixabay)

Now, NASA has red-flagged an asteroid, named Asteroid 2022 UF4, which is dangerously heading for Earth today, October 27. NASA has warned that Asteroid 2022 UF4 is nearly 140 feet wide, which is nearly the size of a commercial aircraft. (Pixabay)

3/6 Now, NASA has red-flagged an asteroid, named Asteroid 2022 UF4, which is dangerously heading for Earth today, October 27. NASA has warned that Asteroid 2022 UF4 is nearly 140 feet wide, which is nearly the size of a commercial aircraft. (Pixabay)

Asteroid 2022 UF4 is already on its way towards Earth travelling at a staggering speed of 47556 kilometers per hour and will just miss the planet today, October 27. The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth at a distance of just 4.5 million kilometers, according to NASA. (Pixabay)

4/6 Asteroid 2022 UF4 is already on its way towards Earth travelling at a staggering speed of 47556 kilometers per hour and will just miss the planet today, October 27. The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth at a distance of just 4.5 million kilometers, according to NASA. (Pixabay)

According to the-sky.org, the Asteroid 2022 UF4 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was discovered recently on September 25. This asteroid takes 376 days to complete one trip around the Sun during which its maximum distance from the Sun is 213 million kilometers and nearest distance is 92 million kilometers. (NASA)

5/6 According to the-sky.org, the Asteroid 2022 UF4 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was discovered recently on September 25. This asteroid takes 376 days to complete one trip around the Sun during which its maximum distance from the Sun is 213 million kilometers and nearest distance is 92 million kilometers. (NASA)

NASA currently has a NEO Observations Program in place to track, and characterize at least 90 percent of the NEOs that are 140 meters or larger in size. Most of the asteroids are observed with the help of the NEOWISE Project which repurposed NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer to work as a survey telescope and scan the sky for Near-Earth Objects. (NASA)

6/6 NASA currently has a NEO Observations Program in place to track, and characterize at least 90 percent of the NEOs that are 140 meters or larger in size. Most of the asteroids are observed with the help of the NEOWISE Project which repurposed NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer to work as a survey telescope and scan the sky for Near-Earth Objects. (NASA)