Close encounter: Asteroid as big as a football field will whiz right by Earth this week
An asteroid the size of a football field will have a close brush with Earth on Tuesday.
The asteroid, known as 2010 WC9, was first spotted in November 2010 and was monitored until December of that year, when it became faint to see. On May 8, astronomers spotted the asteroid and gave it a new name before realizing it was 2010 WC9.
The asteroid measures between 197 and 427 feet in diameter — longer than a football field — and travels at speeds of 28,655 mph, according to EarthSky.
The flyby, expected to happen at 3:05 p.m. Pacific time, is the closest approach of this particular asteroid in nearly 300 years, according to EarthSky.
The asteroid is expected to get as close as 126,419 miles from Earth, or about half the distance of the moon, according to the Great Lakes Ledger.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/news/nation-world/world/article211064469.html
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