These Asteroids will miss us: One as big as Mount Everest, one closer than the moon

The massive asteroid, named 415029 (2011 UL21), will pass Earth Thursday. At its closest point, it will be more than 4 million miles away, or 17 times as far from Earth as the moon, according to a European Space Agency news release. At more than 7,500 feet across, it is larger than 99% of near-Earth asteroids.

Two days later, the smaller asteroid will hurtle much closer to Earth, although astronomers say it also has a 0% chance of impact. The asteroid, dubbed 2024 MK, will pass within the moon’s orbit of Earth, about 180,000 miles away. It will be observable from clear, dark skies with a small telescope on Saturday, the European Space Agency said.

Asteroids approaching: One as big as Mount Everest, one closer than the moon