US space agency NASA is tracking a potentially deadly space rock heading in Earth’s direction. NASA researchers have calculated the approaching asteroid to be a similar size of the Empire State Building. The asteroid, dubbed 2019 GT3 by NASA is one of the largest asteroids approaching Earth in September
NASA estimate the asteroid is currently hurtling through space at a speed of 30,500mph (50,000kmh).
Asteroid 2019 GT3 boasts a 1,214ft (370m) diameter, making the space rock taller than the Eiffel Tower.
Given the asteroid’s massive size and speed, 2019 GT3 could be capable of creating a 3 mile-wide crater should it collides with Earth.
This makes the asteroid powerful enough to destroy an entire city during an impact event.
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Thankfully NASA has calculated 2019 GT3 will fly past Earth on September 6 at 5.21am BST (12.21am ET).
During the astroid’s near-Earth approach, the massive asteroid will be about 0.04996 Astronomical Units (AU) distant or around 4.6 million miles from the planet’s centre.
An Astronomical Unit is the average distance between Earth and the Sun.
2019 GT3 was first observed on April 3, 2019. Based on NASA’s CNEOS database, the asteroid is also known to approach Red Planet Mars and gas giant Jupiter.
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The asteroid’s next near-Earth approach will happen on June 20, 2030.
In the intervening decade, the asteroid will barrel past the Earth from a distance of 0.09599 AU – approximately 8.9 million miles distance.
NASA categorised 2019 GT3 as an Apollo asteroid. Like other asteroids belonging to this family, 2019 GT3 has a very wide orbit around the Earth and the Sun.
As the asteroid flies through space, it frequently crosses Earth’s path as it orbits the Sun.
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Due to 2019 GT3’s close-intersections with Earth’s orbit, it has been classified by CNEOS as a potentially hazardous asteroid.
NASA wrote in a statement: “Potentially hazardous asteroids are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid’s potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth.
“Specifically, all asteroids with a minimum orbit intersection distance of 0.5 AU or less and an absolute magnitude of 22.0 or less are considered potentially hazardous asteroids.”