Five asteroids, including two roughly the size of an airplane, are making relatively close approaches to Earth this week.

While "close" in astronomical terms is still a considerable distance, the proximity warrants monitoring by space agencies like NASA.

These near-Earth objects (NEOs) are remnants from the early solar system, and their flybys provide valuable opportunities for scientists to study their composition and trajectories.

The two larger asteroids, estimated to be around 20-30 meters in diameter (similar to a small-to-medium sized airplane), pose no threat of impact.

Their paths have been carefully calculated and show them passing safely beyond Earth's orbit.

Nevertheless, their size highlights the potential for damage should a similar-sized object ever collide with our planet.

The energy released from such an impact could be significant, potentially causing considerable regional devastation depending on the location and composition of the asteroid.

The three smaller asteroids, significantly less massive, are also expected to pass harmlessly by.

Their sizes are likely in the range of several meters to tens of meters.

While unlikely to cause widespread damage if they entered the atmosphere, they could still produce spectacular meteor events or potentially smaller localized impacts depending on their trajectory and composition.

The close approaches offer a chance to refine tracking models and improve our understanding of NEO populations.

Every observation enhances our ability to predict future flybys and, crucially, to identify and potentially mitigate any potential future threats.

The data collected during these flybys contributes to the ongoing efforts to create effective planetary defense strategies.

While this week's flybys are not cause for alarm, they serve as a reminder of the constant presence of NEOs and the importance of continued monitoring and research.

Five asteroids, one as large as a house and two each the size of an airplane, will fly past Earth between Sept. 6 and Sept. 12, according to  

The house-sized asteroid, called JA5, will be the first to approach, passing by the planet on Sept. 6. It will pass within 3.17 million miles of Earth, and was first observed in 2021. According to NASA, the asteroid is about 59 feet in size, hence its comparison to a house. 

Two asteroids will go past Earth on Sept. 8. One, called QC5, has been compared to a plane and will be about 79 feet in size, and the other, named GE, is about the size of a bus, measuring in at approximately 26 feet in size. The airplane-sized asteroid was first observed in 2023, and will be within 2.53 million miles of Earth. The second asteroid was first observed in 2020, and will pass within 3,560,000 miles of the planet. 

The second airplane-sized asteroid, QF6, was discovered in 2023 and measures about 68 feet in size. It will pass Earth on Sept. 10. This one will come the closest to the planet, traveling about 1.65 million miles from Earth.

The final expected asteroid will also be the size of a bus and fly by Earth on Sept. 12. This asteroid, measuring about 25 feet in size, was first discovered in 2020 and was named RT2. This week, it will be about 2,620,000 miles from Earth. 

None of the asteroids are expected to pose any threat. Objects are deemed "potentially hazardous" when they are coming within 4.6 million miles, which all of these asteroids are, but they also must be more than about 490 feet in size. None of the asteroids expected this week are anywhere near that large. 

The Asteroid Watch dashboard tracks asteroids and comets that will make "relatively close approaches to Earth," according to NASA. NASA also operates an "" webpage which can be used to see asteroids and comets around the galaxy in real-time, thanks to an interactive visualization based on data from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Center for Near Earth Object Studies.