2 'potentially hazardous' asteroids will streak by Earth this week, one as big as a mountain. You can watch it live.

microsoft, 2 'potentially hazardous' asteroids will streak by earth this week, one as big as a mountain. you can watch it live.

Two different "potentially hazardous" asteroids will fly by Earth this week. Both will be rare and spectacular events, but they won't threaten Earth. buradaki/Getty Images

  • On Thursday and Saturday, two different "potentially hazardous" asteroids will fly by Earth.
  • The first is as big as a mountain, and the second will be one of the brightest in recent history.
  • Neither of them poses a threat to Earth, and you can watch their fly-bys live.

Two rare asteroids will zoom past Earth at close range this week, within just 42 hours of each other.

Due to their size and trajectory, both of these space rocks are labeled "potentially hazardous." But that doesn't mean they pose an immediate threat to Earth.

In fact, both of them will safely fly by at thousands of miles per hour. There's a zero percent chance that either will collide with our planet, according to the European Space Agency.

Neither of these asteroids will be visible to the naked eye, but you may be able to spot them with a telescope or binoculars, Gianluca Masi, astrophysicist and founder of The Virtual Telescope Project, told Business Insider over email.

Or, you can watch them via livestreams hosted by The Virtual Telescope Project:

    Mountain-sized Asteroid (415029) 2011 UL21

    microsoft, 2 'potentially hazardous' asteroids will streak by earth this week, one as big as a mountain. you can watch it live.

    Asteroid (415029) 2011 UL21 is enormous but its closest approach to Earth is comfortably far. European Space Agency

    Asteroid (415029) 2011 UL21 is one of the largest asteroids to have recently passed near Earth, Masi wrote in a press statement.

    With an estimated diameter of roughly 1.4 miles, this mountain-sized space rock is larger than 99% of all known near-Earth objects, according to the European Space Agency.

    Asteroid 2011 UL21 falls into a class of space rocks known as "planet killers," which are at least 1.2 miles wide. If one crashed into Earth, it would cause damage on a continental scale, and potentially kick up enough dust to trigger significant climactic changes for many years, LiveScience reported.

    The Chicxulub asteroid, for example, credited with the dinosaurs' demise was about 6.5 miles across and triggered global warming for an estimated 100,000 years after impact.

    microsoft, 2 'potentially hazardous' asteroids will streak by earth this week, one as big as a mountain. you can watch it live.

    If a "planet killer" asteroid like 2011 UL21 collided with Earth, it could cause a mass extinction event. solarseven/Getty Images

    Luckily, 2011 UL21 won't be coming close enough to cause any concern on Thursday. It'll sneak by Earth at a safe distance of more than 4 million miles, which is 17 times farther than the distance between Earth and the moon, Masi wrote.

    But this fly-by is noteworthy because 2011 UL21 will be among the top 10 largest asteroids to pass by Earth at close range in the last 125 years, he added.

    Newly discovered Asteroid 2024 MK

    microsoft, 2 'potentially hazardous' asteroids will streak by earth this week, one as big as a mountain. you can watch it live.

    Asteroid 2024 MK is about the size of a football field and will pass relatively close to Earth. European Space Agency

    Asteroid 2024 MK was first discovered earlier this month, just 13 days before it will pass by Earth at remarkably close range, according to the European Space Agency.

    It's much smaller than 2011 UL21, with an estimated diameter between 390 and 885 feet. That's roughly the length of one to 2.5 football fields.

    microsoft, 2 'potentially hazardous' asteroids will streak by earth this week, one as big as a mountain. you can watch it live.

    This animated map shows how close Asteroid 2024 MK will get to Earth during its upcoming close flyby. European Space Agency

    But what this asteroid lacks in size, it should make up for in brightness. It will come within 184,000 miles of Earth, which is about 77% of the average distance between the Earth and the moon, Masi wrote.

    It's close proximity will make it one of the brightest objects of its kind observed in recent history, he added.

    If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

    OTHER NEWS

    12 minutes ago

    WNBA coach weighs in on Caitlin Clark's trash-talking abilities

    12 minutes ago

    PFF leaves Commanders linebackers out of the top 15

    12 minutes ago

    The Poignant Reason Behind the New King Charles Portrait

    12 minutes ago

    Bill Barr joins Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dave McCormick to rail against border-fueled crime: ‘Destroy the cartels’

    12 minutes ago

    Brentford close in on £35m deal to sign Leeds midfielder Archie Gray... as Bees steal march on Tottenham and Arsenal for the highly-rated teenager

    12 minutes ago

    Former Wimbledon champion looks unrecognisable as she returns to Centre Court four years after retiring from tennis

    12 minutes ago

    Beware of the beast! England's back-row colossus Chandler Cunningham-South who grew up in New Zealand is ready to rumble against the All Blacks

    17 minutes ago

    Despair in the air: For many voters, the Biden-Trump debate means a tough choice just got tougher

    20 minutes ago

    Video: Anthony Joshua FINALLY moves out of 'amazing' mum's modest £175k flat in Golders Green (and luckily he has £83M fortune to spend on digs)

    20 minutes ago

    Jane Lynch, 63, makes rare public appearance with screenwriter wife Jennifer Cheyne, 62, as they step out for lunch date at new Montecito hotspot

    20 minutes ago

    US and Europe warn Lebanon's Hezbollah to ease strikes on Israel and back off from wider Mideast war

    20 minutes ago

    Verstappen says latest Red Bull row "could have been avoided"

    20 minutes ago

    Usher & Victoria Monét Lauded at 2024 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards: ‘We Shoot, Not Eye Level, But for the Stars'

    20 minutes ago

    Alabama football recruiting: Dijon Lee commits as Crimson Tide land four-star DB in 2025 class

    20 minutes ago

    Where to watch Switzerland vs. Italy live stream, TV channel, lineups, prediction for Euro 2024 Round of 16 match

    20 minutes ago

    In CJI Chandrachud's presence, Bengal CM Mamata calls for judiciary free of political bias

    20 minutes ago

    Why spatial data accuracy matters

    20 minutes ago

    Do 49ers need to add another starting safety by training camp?

    20 minutes ago

    Postal vote issues could affect election results, warns Swinney

    20 minutes ago

    Scott Robertson: ‘There’s a bit of unconscious bias but it’s still got to be earned’

    20 minutes ago

    Lando Norris reflects on Max Verstappen masterclass after Austria qualifying

    20 minutes ago

    Bucket hats and Barbour: Something has changed at Glastonbury and it’s working wonders

    20 minutes ago

    Novak Djokovic gives fitness update after practice session at Wimbledon

    20 minutes ago

    France’s Romain Bardet wins Tour de France opening stage to take yellow jersey

    20 minutes ago

    LeBron James to opt out of Lakers deal, but expected to return on new contract, report says

    20 minutes ago

    What to know about water safety before heading to the beach or pool this summer

    20 minutes ago

    Ex-HISD middle school teacher accused of sexually assaulted 14-year-old girl he was driving home, court documents say

    20 minutes ago

    First Lady of the Philippines visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

    20 minutes ago

    England fans fall out of love with Gareth Southgate, once seen as a unifying force

    20 minutes ago

    Nearly 100,000 Tunisians have coeliac disease (Association of Coeliac Patients)

    20 minutes ago

    REVIEW: Ford Territory might not be ‘True Blue’ but it’s totally in tune with modern SUV buyers

    20 minutes ago

    UK Athletics Championships 2024 start times, TV channel and FREE live stream today

    20 minutes ago

    Max Verstappen understands why dad Jos is furious with Christian Horner amid Red Bull row

    24 minutes ago

    Why Eddie Murphy Declined to Do Coke With Robin Williams and John Belushi

    24 minutes ago

    Mark Cavendish struggles as Romain Bardet wins first stage of Tour de France

    30 minutes ago

    10 Graphs You Need To See To Understand Egypt's Startup Ecosystem

    30 minutes ago

    Country garden in Cornwall sells for three times its asking price

    30 minutes ago

    T20 World Cup 2024 final start time, TV channel, live stream for South Africa vs India today

    30 minutes ago

    Aer Lingus pilots march around Dublin Airport during eight-hour strike

    30 minutes ago

    Winnipeg Jets select D Alfons Freij 37th overall