According to NASA, an asteroid named 2011 VG9, approximately 390 feet wide is approaching Earth at a speed of 85,520 km/h and is set to pass by the planet on April 16. Belonging to the Apollo class of asteroids, 2011 VG9 is set to pass by the planet at 5:54 PM IST.
While the minimum close-approach distance of the asteroid is 4.6 million kilometres, keeping it just outside the range of "potentially hazardous" asteroids, it is the humongous size and speed of the asteroid that is alarming for us.
What would happen if 2011 VG9 hit Earth?
While the 2011 VG9 is expected to pass by Earth smoothly, as per experts if the asteroid hit the planet the results would be catastrophic. While it is just shy of being classified as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" its size is large enough to destroy a city. Combined with its high speed, the impact of it falling on the planet could unleash energy equivalent to tens of megatons of TNT leading to firestorms, shockwaves, massive craters and widespread destruction.
The last asteroid that hit Earth was the Chelyabinsk meteor in 2013. It exploded over Chelyabinsk in Russia and caused injury to approximately 1500 people. 2011 VG9, is six times larger than the Chelyabinsk meteor. Now, imagine the power of destruction it has.
What are Apollo asteroids ?
2011 VG9 is part of the Apollo Asteroids group. These are a group of near-Earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits intersect with Earth's orbit around the sun. Since they are in close proximity to the planet, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) always monitors their movement, as even if they pass by, they might change their trajectory at any moment.
Earlier this month, another asteroid called 2023 KU passed by Earth at a distance of 1 million kilometres on April 11th, 2025. What has come to light with these asteroids passing by Earth is that keeping an eye on these near-Earth objects is a necessity as one miscalculation or orbit shift, and we would have to face the catastrophic consequences.
While the minimum close-approach distance of the asteroid is 4.6 million kilometres, keeping it just outside the range of "potentially hazardous" asteroids, it is the humongous size and speed of the asteroid that is alarming for us.
What would happen if 2011 VG9 hit Earth?
While the 2011 VG9 is expected to pass by Earth smoothly, as per experts if the asteroid hit the planet the results would be catastrophic. While it is just shy of being classified as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" its size is large enough to destroy a city. Combined with its high speed, the impact of it falling on the planet could unleash energy equivalent to tens of megatons of TNT leading to firestorms, shockwaves, massive craters and widespread destruction.
The last asteroid that hit Earth was the Chelyabinsk meteor in 2013. It exploded over Chelyabinsk in Russia and caused injury to approximately 1500 people. 2011 VG9, is six times larger than the Chelyabinsk meteor. Now, imagine the power of destruction it has.
What are Apollo asteroids ?
2011 VG9 is part of the Apollo Asteroids group. These are a group of near-Earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits intersect with Earth's orbit around the sun. Since they are in close proximity to the planet, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) always monitors their movement, as even if they pass by, they might change their trajectory at any moment.
Earlier this month, another asteroid called 2023 KU passed by Earth at a distance of 1 million kilometres on April 11th, 2025. What has come to light with these asteroids passing by Earth is that keeping an eye on these near-Earth objects is a necessity as one miscalculation or orbit shift, and we would have to face the catastrophic consequences.
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