If an asteroid the size of 2024 XN1 hit Earth it would explode with the energy of 12 million tonnes of TNT] If 2024 XN1 were to hit the planet, scientists estimate that it would impact with a force equivalent to 12 million tonnes of TNT and flatten an area of 700 square miles (2,000 square km).
Huge 'Christmas Eve asteroid' the size of a 10-story building will skim past Earth at 14,743mph on 24 December, NASA warns This Christmas Eve, children around the world may be hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa's sleigh flying through the skies.
This is a near miss in astronomical terms but there is no risk of a collision] Jess Lee, astronomer at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, told MailOnline: 'It will be very far away, around 18 times further away from the Earth than the Moon is, and so with this predicted path won’t come close enough to hit the Earth.'.
NASA has warned that the huge 'Christmas Eve asteroid' will skim past Earth on December 24 at 14,743mph (stock image).
The Christmas Eve asteroid was only spotted on December 12 as NASA and the European Space Agency's (ESA) planetary defence systems noticed its approach.
