“Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, just a MASSIVE asteroid…”
That’s what we expect to hear later this month as the massive space rock, which has been code named 2004 BL86, is set to pass by our planet on January 26.
Unless, of course, you’re this guy, in which case you probably won’t bat an eyelid…
So, just how close will this asteroid come to Earth? Well it’s expected to pass by at over one million kilometres from our planet at a speed of 56,000kph, but that’s still very close in astronomical terms, reports the Irish Independent.
According to retired NASA scientist Dr Don Yeomans, “Monday January 26 will be the closest asteroid 2004 BL86 will get to Earth for at least the next 200 years.”
“And while it poses no threat to Earth for the foreseeable future, it’s a relatively close approach by a relatively large asteroid, so it provides us a unique opportunity to observe and learn more.”
So keep your eyes on the skies on the 26th as you just never know what you might see (you might need a pair of binoculars).
Here’s a look at the path the asteroid is expected to take via NASA…
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