A new space study has shown that at least three large asteroids might be heading toward Earth, and experts say they are powerful enough to wipe out a city if they hit.

The findings, published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, focus on three specific space rocks: 2020 SB, 524522, and 2002 CL1. These asteroids move in the same path around the Sun as Venus, but because of their position, they are hidden by the Sun's bright glare. This makes it very hard for telescopes on Earth to spot them, according to scientists.

Even though the asteroids aren’t close to Venus right now, researchers say that a small change in gravity, like from another passing object, could send them on a new course toward Earth. If that happens, the results could be extremely serious.

A single impact could create a crater more than 3 kilometers wide and unleash energy up to a million times stronger than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, according to a Fox News report.

“These co-orbital asteroids are protected from close encounters with Venus, but not with Earth,” the research team explained, as quoted by The Daily Galaxy.

Because the Sun blocks our view of these objects, scientists worry they could sneak up on us with little time to prepare. The Rubin Observatory in Chile, which watches for space threats, might only have two to four weeks’ warning if one of these asteroids heads our way.

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