Asteroid today: NASA satellite data show giant space rock heading towards Earth

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The massive Asteroid 2023 JL2 is heading towards Earth and NASA satellites are tracking its speed, size and proximity to our planet.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

About the origin of the asteroid today, NASA says it belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids.

Photo Credit: NASA

NASA tracks these asteroids from ground- and space-based telescopes. Astonishingly, it finds around 3,000 new near-Earth objects (NEOs) annually. Many asteroids are found just days before they pass Earth!

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CNEOS data shows that Asteroid 2023 JL2 is approaching Earth at a ferocious speed and will have a close encounter with our planet today, May 20.

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The asteroid is speeding towards Earth at 33666 kilometers per hour. It will come as close as 5.9 million kilometers.

Photo Credit: NASA

NASA data estimates show that it is massive in size - around 130 feet wide.

Photo Credit: NASA

NASA has deployed tech like the Pan-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey, and the NEOWISE telescope to find asteroids. It will also launch a NEO Surveyor mission in 2026.