The Asteroid 2019 SP3 is classified as “potentially hazardous” by NASA. The space rock is an estimated 20 metres in width whereas Buckingham Palace is 24 metres high. The asteroid is set to skim past the planet on Thursday at a distance of 0.97 lunar units.
The Lunar distance between the Earth and the moon is 1.00 lunar units.
This in turn means that the space rock will pass within 231,690 miles of our planet’s surface.
Despite the close proximity, NASA does not believe asteroid 2019 SP3 is going to hit the planet.
In the event of it did, the relatively small size of the asteroid means that it would only have local damage, although could still be very destructive depending on the impact zone.
READ MORE: How often do asteroids hit Earth? What is the danger?
Last month asteroid researchers and spacecraft engineers from the US, Europe and around the world gathered in Rome to discuss the latest progress in their common goal.
It will be an ambitious double spacecraft mission to deflect an asteroid in space, to prove the technique is a viable method of planetary defence.
Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May explained how the mission would be conducted using the might of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and other asteroid specialists.
He said: “HERA is going to show us no one has ever seen before.
“Just the seemingly tiny moon would be big enough to destroy a city if it were to collide with the Earth.
“But we are going to find out if it is possible to deflect it.”
He added: “HERA is led by a multinational team of scientists and engineers.
“Right now all we have is many years and theories but HERA will revolutionise our understanding of asteroids and how to protect ourselves from them.
