To be clear, these four asteroids aren’t the only space rocks visiting our neck of the woods this month. There are a total of 34 asteroids to make it to our region of space.

However, most of those are small – under 100 metres in diameter. If they were to pass through our atmosphere, they would burn up. Here’s what we know about the larger visitors.

Asteroid 2002 NN4 – 6 June 2020

NASA predicts that Asteroid 2002 NN4 – which is estimated to be taller than the Empire State building – would dash past Earth at a distance of 5.1 million kilometres, at a velocity of 11.1 kilometres per second

In fact, Asteroid 2002 NN4 is the first of four fairly large asteroids to pass by Earth this month. 2002 NN4 will make its closest approach to Earth on 6 June 3:20 UTC, or 5:20 South African Standard Time (SAST).

It has a diameter of 570 metres, making it our biggest visitor this month; it’s classified as a “potentially hazardous Near-Earth Object”. However, as of now, there is no reason to be alarmed.

Asteroid 2020 LA – 6 June 2020

Asteroid 2020 LA will pass by Earth at a distance of 1.4 million kilometres, at a speed of 15.44km per second. As reported by The Sky Live, the asteroid is currently in the constellation of Lyra.

We can expect Asteroid Neo 2020 LA to pass by on 6 June as well, at 19:16 UTC, or 21:16 South Africa Standard Time (SAST). It will pass by close in astronomical terms, but at a max of 53 metres in diameter, it’s too small to pose a threat.

Asteroid 2013 XA22 – 8 June

Two days later, on Monday 8 June, Asteroid 2013 XA22 will pass by Earth during the early morning hours at 5:40 SAST, at a distance of approximately 2.94 kilometres.

This space rock is significantly smaller than Asteroid 2002 NN4 – on 160 metres in diameter – and will pass by at a velocity of about 24 050 kilometres per hour.

Asteroid 2010 NY65 – 24 June

As the name suggests, Asteroid 2020 NY65 was discovered a decade ago. This charming fellow will be passing by Earth on 24 June 2020 at 8:44 SAST.

The safest by far, 2020 NY 65 will fly by at a distance of 3.76 million kilometres at a velocity of about 46 400 kilometres per hour. Slightly bigger than 2013 XA22, this one measures 310 metres in diameter.

Recent asteroids

Back in May, a Near-Earth Object (NEO) named Asteroid 2020 KR passed by Earth at a distance of 397 369 kilometres. The asteroid whizzed past at a relative speed of 13.77 kilometres per second.

When first spotted by The Sky Live, the asteroid was approximately 552 111 kilometres from Earth but posed no threat to our beloved planet.

An asteroid – or any other space object or debris – is classified as “potentially hazardous” when it comes within 7.48 million kilometres of Earth.

There are 2 044 known potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), of which 157 are estimated to be larger than one kilometre in diameter.