An asteroid nearly as large as the Gold Gate Bridge is expected to cross the Earth later this month.
It will be the largest and fastest asteroid to travel through our space this year, but it will not get anywhere close enough to cause major concern.
The asteroid – 2001 FO32 – is smaller than the last large one about a year ago to make a close transition, but will be three times closer and much, much faster, NASA said in a statement.
It measures about 1,300 to 2,230 feet wide and is expected to pass by Earth – though 1.25 million miles away – on March 21. The unusually fast rock will travel 77,000 mph (21 miles per second).
In fact, it is close enough to be officially considered an “near-Earth” asteroid, which is expected to give scientists a good look at a piece of rock that existed at the dawn of the universe.
“This is the closest approach planned in 2021 for any moderately large asteroid, where ‘moderately large’ means at least a few hundred meters in size,” said Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near Earth Object Studies. for CBS News.
Outdoor fans could only see the zoom with a telescope in the backyard.
Observers using telescopes 8 inches or larger could detect the asteroid closing in front of the stars, according to EarthSky.
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