Massive asteroid the size of a Chrysler Building to pass Earth today

A huge asteroid will hover over Earth today, according to data from NASA’s Center for Near Earth Studies (CNEOS).

The space rock, dubbed 2016 CL136, is expected to come closest to our planet at 5:26 p.m. on February 1, according to CNEOS.

Based on its observed magnitude, astronomers estimate the asteroid could measure between about 460 feet and 1,017 feet in diameter.

At the high end of this estimate, the space rock would be roughly the same size as the Chrysler Building in New York or the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

At the lower end of the estimate, the 2016 CL136 would be roughly the same size as the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

During its close approach, the asteroid will be approximately 3.3 million miles from Earth. Although it may seem like a long way off, it is actually a relatively small distance in astronomical terms.

To put the close-in approach in context, the asteroid will pass our planet about 14 times the average distance between Earth and the Moon.

During this flyby, the 2016 CL136 will travel at a staggering speed of around 40,400 miles per hour, which is about 20 times faster than a rifle bullet, 55 times faster than the speed of sound, and about a fifth faster than a lightning bolt.

Astronomers are familiar with the trajectory of this object and projections show that it has no chance of hitting Earth in the foreseeable future.

If an object the size of the 2016 CL136 were to strike Earth, it would likely cause widespread devastation on a regional scale.

2016 CL136 is one of many “near-Earth objects” or near-Earth objects orbiting the sun. This group of objects includes any asteroid or comet that may pass within 30 million kilometers of the Earth’s orbital path.

Astronomers have so far identified around 25,000 near-Earth objects, the vast majority of which are asteroids.

None of these pose a significant risk of hitting Earth in the next century, according to NASA.

Coincidentally, the 2016 CL136 isn’t the only large asteroid to hover over Earth on February 1.

Earlier today, Space Rock 2020 TB12 made a close-in approach, about 1.6 million kilometers from our planet at 12:50 a.m.ET.

This asteroid is likely smaller than 2016 CL136, measuring between 360 feet and 787 feet in diameter, according to CNEOS estimates.