NASA says a large asteroid will fly by Earth on Feb. 15

Asteroid O2 PZ 39 will approach Earth on a Saturday, traveling at nearly 50,500 kilometers per hour. It has a diameter between 440 and 990 meters. If an asteroid larger than 20.5 meters but smaller than a kilometer hits Earth, it could cause local damage. Larger asteroids could have worldwide effects. Most asteroids orbit between Jupiter and Mars, posing little threat to Earth, but O2 PZ 39 is an exception. NASA classifies it as a near-Earth object, estimating it will miss Earth by 15.2 lunar distances or 5.8 million kilometers at 11:00 PM on February 15th.

What is the speed of asteroid O2 PZ 39 as it approaches Earth?

• 5,000 kilometers per hour

• 50,000 kilometers per hour

• 500 kilometers per hour

• 5 kilometers per hour

What is the size range of asteroid O2 PZ 39?

• Between 100 meters to 500 meters

• Between 440 meters to 990 meters

• Between 300 meters to 700 meters

• Between 200 meters to 800 meters

What could be the impact of an asteroid larger than one kilometer?

• It would have no effect

• It would burn up in the atmosphere

• It would cause local damage

• It could cause worldwide effects

Where do most asteroids typically orbit?

• Between Saturn and Uranus

• Between Venus and Earth

• Between Mars and Jupiter

• Between Earth and Mars

By what margin is O2 PZ 39 expected to miss Earth?

• 1.5 Lunar distances

• 15.2 Lunar distances

• 20 Lunar distances

• 5.8 Lunar distances