NASA is on alert as three asteroids come hurtling towards Earth at scary speed. Will they collide?

NASA has been on an alert and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has been keeping track of three asteroids which will pass at a close distance from Earth on October 9.

The asteroids, named 2018 QE, 2024 TD3, and 2024 TK3, do not pose any threat to our planet, however, their proximity has given scientists an opportunity to carry out valuable research on space rocks.

Asteroid 2018 QE

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Asteroid 2018 QE is a bus-sized space rock which measures 32 feet wide and will fly at a distance of 415,000 kilometres from Earth.

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This is more than the distance of the Moon from Earth and scientists will be able to study such small celestial objects by its flyby.

Asteroid 2024 TD3

Asteroid 2024 TD3 is as big as an aeroplane and is 99 feet wide. Even though it is a large size, it will fly past our planet at a safe distance of 2,320,000 kilometres.

Asteroid 2024 TK3

Asteroid 2024 TK3 is a house-sized celestial object which measures 57 feet. It will make its closest approach at a safe distance of 2,350,000 kilometres.

How is NASA tracking asteroids?

NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs).

Watch:Scientists Propose Nuclear Solution To Save Earth From Asteroid Armageddon

Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.

Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth.

NASA's Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.

(With inputs from agencies)