An asteroid almost the size of the Golden Gate Bridge is expected to pass over Earth later this month.
This is the largest and fastest asteroid to travel through our space this year, but it can’t get anywhere close enough to cause any major disturbance.
The asteroid – 2001 FO32 – is smaller than the last large one about a year ago to make a close pass, but it will be three times closer, and much, much faster, NASA said in a statement.
It is about 1,300 to 2,230 feet wide, and is expected to pass the Earth – though 1.25 million miles away – on March 21st. The unusually fast rock travels at 77,000 mph (that’s 21 miles per second).
It is close enough to be officially considered an “near Earth” asteroid which is thought to give scientists a good view of a rocky outcrop that existed at the beginning of the earth.
“This is the closest approach expected in 2021 to a medium-sized asteroid, where‘ medium-sized ’means at least several hundred meters in size,” said Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near Earth Objects Studies, reported by CBS News.
Outdoor space fans could just see the zoom-by with a rear-view telescope.
Viewers using 8-inch or larger telescopes may be able to detect the asteroid in front of stars, according to EarthSky.
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