In the last days of 2021, three asteroids will be approaching Earth, according to NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).
The first of the three asteroids that will be approaching Earth has been dubbed 2016 TR54, and according to NASA's database, it will pass by Earth on December 24, at 6:30 a.m. UTC. The asteroid is estimated to be anywhere between 328 and 754 feet in diameter and will be passing Earth at a speed of 34,700 miles per hour at a distance of four million miles, or around 17 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
The next asteroid that will pass by Earth is called 2018 AH, and is estimated to be slightly smaller than 2016 TR54 at a diameter of anywhere between 254 and 623 feet. 2018 AH is expected to have its closest approach on December 27 at 2:40 p.m. UTC (9:40 a.m. ET) at a speed of 28,400 miles per hour, at a distance of 622,800 miles, which is just over double the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
The last asteroid that will make its approach with Earth before the end of the year is called 2017 AE3, and it will be traveling at 42,600 miles per hour when it makes its closest approach with our planet at 1:54 a.m. UTC on December 29, or 8:54 p.m. on December 28, ET. 2017 AE3 will pass by Earth at a distance of around 1.9 million miles and is estimated to be anywhere between 393 feet and 853 feet in diameter.