An asteroid big enough to wipe out a city will travel between Earth and the Moon’s orbit today (Saturday March 25). The asteroid will pass just over 100,000 miles from the Earth and miss both celestial bodies.
The close encounter will offer astronomers the chance to study a space rock from less than half the distance from here to the Moon, making it visible through binoculars and small telescopes. While asteroid flybys are common, Nasa said it is rare for one so big to come so close, something that happens about once a decade.
Scientists estimate its size to be somewhere between 40 metres and 90 metres. Discovered a month ago, the asteroid known as 2023 DZ2 will pass within 320,000 miles of the Moon today and, several hours later, pass above the Indian Ocean at around 17,500mph.
“There is no chance of this ‘city killer’ striking Earth, but its close approach offers a great opportunity for observations,” said the European Space Agency’s planetary defence chief, Richard Moissl.
Astronomers with the International Asteroid Warning Network see it as good practice for planetary defence if and when a dangerous asteroid heads our way, according to Nasa.
The Virtual Telescope Project will provide a live webcast of the close approach. The asteroid will not be back our way again until 2026. Although there initially seemed to be a slight chance it might strike Earth then, scientists have since ruled that out.
