An asteroid is due to pass extremely close to Earth the day before Election Day in November, bringing new meaning to the phrase "Rock the Vote."
But, there's no reason to worry — NASA says this space rock poses no risk to our planet.
The asteroid’s name is 2018 VP1 and it will zoom past Earth on Nov. 2, one day before Americans vote for in the 2020 general election.
In a year where unpredictable disasters seem routine, NASA wants you to know that the rock poses no threat to Earth.
It currently has just a 0.41 percent chance of entering our planet's atmosphere, but if it did, NASA says the asteroid is too small to do any damage. The asteroid is only 2 meters, or 6.5 feet across, making it slightly smaller than a compact car.
"Asteroid 2018VP1 is very small, approx. 6.5 feet, and poses no threat to Earth!" NASA Asteroid Watch tweeted last month. "It would disintegrate due to its extremely small size."
Asteroids fly past Earth all the time — sometimes without us even knowing it.
In August, an asteroid, now known as 2020 QG, became the closest-ever recorded, flying within 1,830 miles of Earth. That’s about the distance between Tampa and Denver. Scientists weren't even aware of its existence until hours after it had already passed our planet.
2020 QG was an SUV-sized asteroid. Even if 2020 QG swerved into Earth's atmosphere, it would have likely burned up.
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