(CNN) — Well, 2020 keeps getting better all the time.
Amid a pandemic, civil unrest and a divisive US election season, we now have an asteroid zooming toward us.
On the day before the presidential vote, no less.
Yep. The celestial object known as 2018VP1 is projected to come close to Earth on November 2, according to the Center for Near Earth Objects Studies at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It was first identified at Palomar Observatory in California in 2018.
“Asteroid 2018VP1 is very small, approximately 6.5 feet, and poses no threat to Earth. If it were to enter our planet’s atmosphere, it would disintegrate due to its extremely small size,” NASA said in a statement. “NASA has been directed by Congress to discover 90% of the near-Earth asteroids larger than 140 meters (459 feet) in size and reports on asteroids of any size.”
NASA says that, “based on 21 observations spanning 12.968 days,” the agency has determined the asteroid probably — phew! — won’t have a deep impact, let alone bring Armageddon.
The chance of it hitting us is just 0.41%, data show.
CNN has reached out NASA for any additional or updated information but has not heard back.
Source: eastidahonews.com

Oh, great: NASA says an asteroid is headed our way right before Election Day
More from NationalMore posts in National »
- Erika Kirk says Turning Point’s efforts to support Vance in 2028 are ‘in the works’
- Afghan national charged in Guard ambush shooting drove across US to carry out attack, officials say
- Two National Guard members in critical condition after shooting near White House, source says
- New prosecutor won’t pursue charges against Trump and others in Georgia election interference case
- Washington resident dies of complications from bird flu strain never before reported in humans
More from ScienceMore posts in Science »
- This exoplanet with glass rain smells like rotten eggs
- SpaceX launches 143 satellites on one rocket in record-setting mission
- The first studies on Idaho’s magnitude-6.5 earthquake are out. Here’s what they tell us.
- Amazon hits back in Parler court reply; invokes Big Tech’s liability shield
- Oil companies lock in drilling, challenging Biden on climate




Be First to Comment