NASA Warns Potentially Hazardous Pyramid-Sized Asteroid to Make Closest Earth Approach in Century Tomorrow

NASA Tracks ‘Potentially Hazardous’ Pyramid-Sized Asteroid Passing Earth

A "potentially hazardous" asteroid, taller than Egypt’s Pyramid of Giza, will safely zip past Earth on Wednesday, NASA confirms. Named 2014 TN17, the space rock will approach within 3.1 million miles at 48,000 mph—60 times the speed of sound—making its closest pass in over a century.

[Image: Artist’s impression of asteroid approaching Earth]
Caption: The asteroid, 2014 TN17, will pass 13 times farther than the Moon’s distance from Earth.

Key Details:

• Size: 540 feet in diameter—larger than the Great Pyramid (449 feet) and nearly double the Taj Mahal’s height.
• Speed & Distance: Traveling at 48,000 mph, it will remain 3.1 million miles away—posing zero collision risk.
• Classification: Labeled "potentially hazardous" due to its size (>459 feet) and proximity (<4.65 million miles).

Why It’s Not a Threat:
NASA’s asteroid tracker constantly monitors near-Earth objects (NEOs). Astronomer Dr. James O’Donoghue notes, “These flybys happen frequently,” emphasizing its safe distance—too far to spot with telescopes.

[Image: Diagram showing 2014 TN17’s orbit around the Sun]
Caption: The asteroid’s elliptical orbit brings it near Earth every 1,240 days.

Asteroids vs. Earth: By the Numbers
NASA estimates:

• 11,000+ NEOs exceed 460 feet, large enough to destroy cities.
• 870+ are over 3,280 feet—capable of global consequences.
• Football-field-sized asteroids hit Earth every ~5,000 years; civilization-ending ones every million years.

Planetary Defense Efforts:
NASA’s 2022 DART mission successfully altered an asteroid’s path via kinetic impact. However, “rubble pile” asteroids (loose rock clusters) may absorb impacts, complicating deflection.

[Image: Comparison of asteroid sizes vs. landmarks]
Caption: Size comparison of 2014 TN17 with global landmarks.

The Bigger Picture:
While 2014 TN17 is no danger, NASA tracks thousands of NEOs. Earlier concerns about asteroid 2024 YR4 were downgraded to a 1-in-26,000 impact chance by 2032.

Deflection Strategies:

• Kinetic Impactors: NASA-proven method (e.g., DART).
• Gravity Tractors: Use spacecraft’s gravity to nudge asteroids.
• Ion Beams/Nukes: Risky; may fragment asteroids into smaller threats.

Though 2014 TN17 won’t strike, its flyby underscores the importance of planetary defense. As O’Donoghue states, “Constant vigilance ensures Earth’s safety from cosmic threats.”

For updates, visit NASA’s Asteroid Watch dashboard.