Asteroid Skims Past Earth At Up To 18,641mph closer to the Earth than at any other time on record -

Asteroid Skims Past Earth At Up To 18,641mph closer to the Earth than at any other time on record - 


A 150ft-long asteroid is skimming past the Earth - closer than any other near-miss on record.

The huge chunk of rock - so big it is capable of wiping out London - is travelling closer to the planet than many satellites.

But while it should be visible as a tiny dot of light crossing the sky to those using binoculars - weather permitting - scientists say there is no chance it will hit Earth.

People are gathering across the UK with binoculars and telescopes to catch a sight of the asteroid, which was due to pass Earth at its closest point at around 7.25pm UK time, before moving away again.

Astronomers in the US were unable to see it at its closest approach, but colleagues in Australia watched the point of light speed across a clear night sky.

There was a remote possibility that it could collide with one of more than 100 telecommunication and weather satellites in fixed orbits and it is expected to have moved outside Earth's ring of satellites by around 10.30pm UK time.

Experts have been closely tracking the asteroid, 2012 DA14, since its discovery a year ago.

It will stay at least 17,200 miles (27,681km) away - easily far enough to be safe - but very close in astronomical terms.

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