The idea of two enormous defunct satellites crashing may sound like the plot from a science fiction blockbuster, but it could become a reality tonight.
Experts have warned that two big pieces of space junk are zooming towards each other, and could collide at round 01:56 BST tonight.
The encounter will take place 616 miles above the South Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Antarctica, according to tracking company LeoLabs.
LeoLabs tweeted: “This event continues to be very high risk and will likely stay this way through the time of closest approach.”
The objects are a defunct Soviet satellite called Parus, and a Chinese rocket stage, with a combined mass of around 2,800kg.
Considering they’ll be barrelling towards each other at a velocity of around 32,900 mph, a collision could be catastrophic.
According to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer from the Centre for Astrophysics, a collision would result in a ‘significant’ increase in low Earth orbit (LEO) space junk.
While the event is unlikely to affect us here on Earth, it could have serious repercussions for satellites, as well as the International Space Station.
NASA explained: “Most ‘space junk’ is moving very fast and can reach speeds of 18,000 miles per hour, almost seven times faster than a bullet.
“Due to the rate of speed and volume of debris in LEO, current and future space-based services, explorations, and operations pose a safety risk to people and property in space and on Earth.
This wouldn’t be the first time that two large pieces of space junk have collided.
Back in 2009, a communications satellite collided with a defunct Russian military satellite, resulting in 1,800 pieces of debris.
LeoLabs will track the space junk tonight to see if it does collide.
It added: “We have scheduled a search mode scan during this time to ensure we only see two objects as expected and hopefully confirm that no new debris is detected.”
