NASA Issues Alert For Huge, Fast-Moving Asteroid Approaching Earth Tonight

NASA issued an alert for a massive, fast-moving asteroid expected to approach Earth Tuesday (September 17) night.

The celestial space rock, which has been dubbed '2024 ON' and estimated to be about the size of a football stadium, was deemed "potentially hazardous" when monitored by the Virtual Telescope Project traveling at nearly 25,000 miles per hour on September 9, the Independent reported. The asteroid is, however, expected to pass about 621,000 miles from Earth, which is more than 2.6 times farther away than the average distance from the moon and isn't believed to be a threat, according to Yahoo News .

Still, 2024 ON could deviate from its trajectory, which would result in potential major consequences, according to the Independent . The asteroid had previously passed by Earth in 2013 and isn't expected to repeat its pathway until 2035.

Asteroid 2024 ON is among five that were monitored to be passing close to Earth recently, with others estimated to between the size of a house and airplane. The closest space rock was estimated to have passed within 326,000 of Earth, which is considered to be "a safe distance," according to NASA Solar System Ambassador Brenda Culbertson .

Earth isn't expected to experience any known significant damages from asteroids within the next century or so, according to American aeronautical engineer and former NASA astronaut Rusty Schweickart via LongNow.org .