On February 15th/16th the asteroid 2012 DA14 will fly past the Earth at a distance of only 34000 km (inside the ring of geostationary satellites).
It will not be visible to the naked eye, but should be visible through binoculars if you know where to look. I’ve spent time plotting its course which passes through the handle of the Big Dipper for this coming Friday night. It will be a very difficult to spot.
Scientists say they are sure there is no chance of the 150 ft wide space rock hitting the planet. Experts have calculated it will stay at least 17,200 miles (27,681km) away - easily far enough to be safe, but a very close shave in astronomical terms. We have never observed such a narrow miss before.
It was detected in February last year by La Sagra Observatory in southern Spain as it fell under the spotlight of the Sun's rays. Travelling at 18,641mph (30,000kph) - around five miles (8km) a second, the astroid will cruise inside the orbits of high geostationary satellites some 22,000 miles (35,406km) above the Earth. Yikes I say!
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