Asteroid could hit Earth on Valentine’s Day 2046, monitored by NASA

Asteroid could hit Earth on Valentine’s Day 2046, monitored by NASA

NASA is watching an asteroid that could strike Earth on Valentine’s Day 2046. The odds are far in our planet’s favor, but the asteroid is No. 1 now on an official Risk List of impact threats.

Known as 2023 DW, the asteroid was discovered Feb. 26, according to the European Space Agency. ESA gives the asteroid a 1 in 607 chance of hitting Earth.

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination office is also tracking the asteroid and agrees the risk of it hitting Earth in 2046 remains “very small.”

Scientists think now that 2023 DW is about the size of a large swimming pool but they’re not sure. And if the asteroid misses our planet in 2046, scientists say it could still hit on Valentine’s Days after that up to the year 2051.