According to NASA officials, a plane-sized asteroid is expected to pass Earth on July 28. However, scientists believe the encounter to be a normal occurrence and won’t pose any danger.
The asteroid, known by the name of 2025 OW and measuring approximately 210 feet (64 meters) in length, will pass Earth next week at a distance of about 393,000 miles (roughly 630,000 kilometers). It is estimated to be around 1.6 times the distance to the Moon. It's traveling at a speed of 46,908 miles (76 kilometers) per hour.
Asteroids are rock-like objects that orbit the Sun, and meteors are pieces of asteroids (or comets) that enter the Earth's atmosphere. They vary greatly in size and threat to us here on Earth. While small meteors occur every day, large meteors or asteroids are far rarer. According to NASA, an asteroid as big as a car will usually enter the Earth's atmosphere around once per year. This size will burn up before it hits the ground, creating an impressive fireball. Roughly every 2,000 years, an object the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage.
Intrigued? Click through this gallery to discover some of the close calls from the last 20 years.