NASA is keeping an eye on a large asteroid that is set to pass over Earth on Christmas Day.
The space rock, 501647 (2014 SD224), is on the US Space Agency’s “Close Approach” list and could be up to 689 meters wide.
It’s as long as two football fields.
It is estimated to come to less than 1.9 million miles from Earth.
This may seem like no risk, but in terms of space, it’s pretty close.
Any fast-moving space object at about 4.65 million miles is considered “potentially dangerous” by prudent space organizations.
The space rock is expected to pass by our planet on December 25th.
It should be closest around 3:20 pm ET.
According to NASA’s Closer Table, a much smaller asteroid named 2020 XY will also fly much earlier in the day.
This asteroid could be up to 144 feet wide, but it should be much farther.
It is expected to reach 3.6 million miles from Earth.
The larger and closer Asteroid 501647 (2014 SD224) is moving at a speed of about 22,000 mph.
NASA has labeled both asteroids near objects on Earth.
