CLOSE NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is on a mission to an asteroid, but on its way it gave us a snapshot of two things we Earthlings are very familiar with. Veuer's Josh King has the story (@abridgetoland). Buzz60

An asteroid that could be the size of the Empire State Building will pass by Earth tonight. (Photo: Elenarts, Getty Images)

A massive asteroid that could be bigger than the Empire State Building will soar past Earth overnight Tuesday.

By NASA's standards, it's going to be flying close by Earth and has been declared a "potentially hazardous asteroid" by the Minor Planet Center.

But you don't have anything to fear. When the asteroid, dubbed 2017 VR12, passes, it will be more than 900,000 miles away — roughly 3.8 times the distance between the Earth to the moon.

NASA said the rocky mass is estimated as having a diameter somewhere from 820 feet to nearly 1500 feet, meaning it could be bigger than the Empire State Building, which measures 1,250-feet in height.

The asteroid will be closest to Earth on Wednesday at 2:53 a.m. EST. EarthSky, an earth and space publication, recommends those in North America tuning in or using their telescopes on Tuesday at 11 p.m. EST to see the object.

To better view the asteroid, EarthSky recommends using a dark cloth or shirt over your head while using a telescope.

More: Asteroid to zoom 'damn close' to Earth on Thursday, will also test planetary defense system

More: NASA: 'Potentially Hazardous Asteroid' will cruise past Earth on Super Bowl Sunday

If you want to view the asteroid but don't have a telescope, the Virtual Telescope Project is offering a livestreamed video of the object as it passes.

Another asteroid passed close by Earth last month on Superbowl Sunday. The rocky mass named 2002 AJ129 was also dubbed hazardous but passed the planet safely at nearly 2.6 million miles away. That's nearly 10 times the distance between the Earth and moon.

There have been closer calls. In October, an asteroid passed by Earth by 26,000 miles. For comparison, the moon is about 239,000 miles away.

Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2oUtVMx</s>A massive asteroid that could be bigger than the Empire State Building will soar past Earth overnight Tuesday

By NASA's standards, it's going to be flying close by Earth and has been declared a "potentially hazardous asteroid" by the Minor Planet Center.

But you don't have anything to fear. When the asteroid, dubbed 2017 VR12, passes, it will be more than 900,000 miles away—roughly 3.8 times the distance between the Earth to the moon.

NASA said the rocky mass is estimated as having a diameter somewhere from 820 feet to nearly 1500 feet, meaning it could be bigger than the Empire State Building, which measures 1,250-feet in height.

The asteroid will be closest to Earth on Wednesday at 2:53 a.m. EST. EarthSky, an earth and space publication, recommends those in North America tuning in or using their telescopes on Tuesday at 11 p.m. EST to see the object.

To better view the asteroid, EarthSky recommends using a dark cloth or shirt over your head while using a telescope.

More: Asteroid to zoom 'damn close' to Earth on Thursday, will also test planetary defense system

More: NASA: 'Potentially Hazardous Asteroid' will cruise past Earth on Super Bowl Sunday

If you want to view the asteroid but don't have a telescope, the Virtual Telescope Project is offering a livestreamed video of the object as it passes.

Another asteroid passed close by Earth last month on Superbowl Sunday. The rocky mass named 2002 AJ129 was also dubbed hazardous but passed the planet safely at nearly 2.6 million miles away. That's nearly 10 times the distance between the Earth and moon.

There have been closer calls. In October, an asteroid passed by Earth by 26,000 miles. For comparison, the moon is about 239,000 miles away.</s>An asteroid the size of the Empire State building will glide past Earth on March 7. Here’s everything you need to know!

This is not a drill! A colossal asteroid, named 2017 VR12 is expected to fly past Earth on Wednesday at the speed of 14,092 miles per hour. In size, the asteroid measures between 700ft and 1,500ft, according to NASA. So crazy, right? Interestingly, VR12 has potential to be hazardous if it comes within a certain distance to our beloved planet, 4,600,000 miles to be exact. But before you freak out, scientist believe it will be more than 900,000 miles away from us– roughly 3.8 times the distance between the Earth and the moon.

Since the asteroid will be closest to Earth at 2:53 am EST, space fanatics can tune in using their telescopes. To better view VR12, nature publication EarthSky recommends using a dark cloth or shirt over your head while using a telescope. Plus, you can also view the asteroid through a live streamed video offered by the Virtual Telescope Project. How fun will that be?! Surprisingly, VR12 isn’t the first asteroid to take a trip past earth this month. On Feb. 4, a rocky mass named 2002 AJ129 passed by Earth safely. This asteroid was also dubbed hazardous but luckily, nothing happened, according USA Today. So it’s safe to assume, we’ll be okay this time around.

If you recall, the only time a mass from space came dangerously close to Earth was in 1972. The Great Fireball or US19720810 was a fire ball that passed within 57 kilometers of Earth’s surface. It was seen by many people and even recorded on film. It left a smoke trail behind, and created a loud sonic boom noise. Lets hope we never have to experience that again!</s>An asteroid bigger than the Golden Gate Bridge is careering toward Earth at breakneck speed. What’s even more alarming is that experts admit it’s “potentially hazardous” to our world.

Astronomers have been following asteroid 2017 VR12 since it was detected in November last year. NASA says that the enormous space rock will shave past our planet in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Measuring up to 470 meters (1,542ft) in diameter the rock is travelling through space at 14,093mph (22,680kph). Because it will come so close to Earth and is big enough to cause significant damage, if it were to strike, the Minor Planet Center designated the asteroid as “potentially hazardous.”

However, fear not, it will not crash into Earth, rather it will pass by at about three times the distance of the moon. It will be nearly 1.4 million km from Earth (870,000 miles) at its closest point during the flyby.

READ MORE: Space time capsules: Asteroids may hold secret to life on Earth

The asteroid is a very good radar target for professional astronomers while amateurs might be able to catch it with smaller telescopes.

NASA’s calculations predict it will be at least 177 years before the asteroid again comes as close to Earth as it will be on Wednesday. Ruptly will be live streaming the close encounter with the asteroid through Virtual Telescope's super high-powered telescope.

Like this story? Share it with a friend!</s>Asteroid 2017 VR 12, which is about the size of the Empire State Building, will flash its pearly whites between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning and will come within an estimated 900,000 miles of Earth.

​Traveling through space at a speed of 14,000 mph, the asteroid will be "most observable" around 11 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday when it travels in front of the constellation Virgo, Earth Sky reported. The asteroid isn't expected to reach its closest approach to Earth until roughly 2:53 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday.

Although NASA has identified the asteroid as "potentially hazardous," officials have indicated that it does not pose any threat to Earth since it's at a distance of roughly three times farther than the moon.

According to NASA's calculations, another 177 years will pass before the asteroid comes near Earth again for another quick hello.

​Asteroid 2017 VR 12 was first discovered on November 10, 2017, by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii. Interested stargazer and asteroid fanatics can also catch a glimpse of the traveling rock by tuning into the Virtual Telescope Project's 7 p.m. live coverage on Tuesday.</s>A monster asteroid the size of the Empire State Building is set to fly past Earth tomorrow at a dizzying speed of 14,092 miles per hour.

The asteroid, dubbed 2017 VR12, is expected to pass within 900,000 miles of Earth around 7:53am (EST) on Wednesday.

With a diameter between 700ft and 1,500ft, VR12 could be bigger than New York City's Empire State Building, which is 1,450ft tall.

VR12's close encounter to Earth has earned it the designation of a 'potentially hazardous asteroid' by NASA.

The space agency describes asteroids as 'hazardous' if they come within 4,600,000 miles of our planet.

Late Wednesday evening, VR12 will fly past earth at a distance of 897,000 miles.

That's three times distance between our planet and the moon.

However, NASA cautioned that there's no possibility that 2017 VR12 will collide with Earth.

In fact, the agency believes the asteroid could be a perfect target for future aerospace studies.

'This object is on the NHATS list of potential spacecraft mission targets, although no mission is actually planned for this object,' the agency explained.

'It should be a very strong radar target,' they added.

VR12 was previously estimated to be as much as 470 meters wide, causing experts to believe that it was bigger than Buckingham Palace.

Those estimates have since been reduced, but NASA is still classifying VR12 as a 'medium sized rock.'

According to NASA, 2017 VR12 was first discovered by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii on Nov. 10, 2017.

It's not supposed to come within Earth's range for another 177 years or so.

Thanks to the virtual telescope project, people all over the world will be able to see the skyscraper-sized asteroid zoom past the earth using a live webcast.

Stargazers can watch the VR12 fly by the earth using the 16-inch robotic telescope at the Tenagra Observatories in Arizona as part of the Virtual Telescope Project and Tenagra Observatories.

VR12 is passing by just a few days after a bus-sized asteroid, 2018 DV1, came within 65,000 miles of our planet last week.

The DV1 has a diameter between 20 to 40 feet and flew past at a speed of 11,600mph.</s>MIAMI - An asteroid about the size of the Empire State Building will swing by Earth tonight, and if the conditions are right, it could be visible through a run-of-the-mill telescope.

Asteroid 2017 VR12 will pass within 897,000 miles of the planet, which is less than four times the distance between the Earth and moon.

The asteroid is thought to measure 1,600 feet in diameter and will first pass over the U.S. just before 11:00 p.m. Tuesday on the East Coast. It will reach its minimum distance from the planet on Thursday morning.

Using optical aid, observers in eastern North America can try to spot the asteroid on March 6 at about 11 p.m. EST. The asteroid will be in front of the constellation Virgo, which will be rising over the eastern horizon around that time. That area of the sky will be visible from Los Angeles, California and the rest of western North America after about 9:30 p.m. PST. - EarthSky.org

Despite its smaller size and safe distance away from Earth, Asteroid 2017 VR12 is still classified as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" by the Minor Planet Center, according to EarthSky.org.

If the skies are clear, the asteroid will be visible with a telescope, but CLICK HERE to watch the asteroid live online.</s>A massive asteroid is all set to fly extremely close to Earth today, at the speed of 14,092 miles per hour. And if the speed isn't shocking enough – the asteroid is as huge as the Empire State Building.

Dubbed as 2017 VR12, the asteroid is expected to pass within 900,000 miles of Earth around 7:53am (EST) on Wednesday. Its diameter is between 700ft and 1,500ft – making it bigger than the Empire State Building, which is 1,450ft tall.

NASA has labelled the VR12 a 'potentially hazardous asteroid' due to the close proximity with Earth. Typically, if asteroids come within 4,600,000 miles of Earth, the space agency labels them as hazardous.

This particular one is scheduled to make its trip past Earth on late Wednesday – at a distance of 897,000 miles – which is three times the distance between our planet and the moon.

However, NASA has also assured that there is no possibility for the 2017 VR12 to collide with Earth. If anything, the agency believes the asteroid could be a perfect target for future aerospace studies.

"This object is on the NHATS list of potential spacecraft mission targets, although no mission is actually planned for this object," the agency explained. "It should be a very strong radar target," they added.

Initially experts had estimated that the VR12 was about 470 metres wide, leading them to believe that the asteroid was the size of the Buckingham Palace. And while those estimates have been reduced, NASA is still classifying it as a 'medium sized rock.'

As NASA revealed, the 2017 VR12 was first discovered by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii on November 10, 2017. It is also not supposed to come within Earth's range for another 177 years or so.

The live action of the asteroid zooming past Earth can be caught by people all over the world, via the Virtual Telescope project through a live webcast.

Stargazers can watch the asteroid using the 16-inch robotic telescope at the Tenagra Observatories in Arizona, which is a part of the Virtual Telescope Project and Tenagra Observatories.</s>Skyscraper-sizied asteroid VR12, 287 meters long, is nearing our Earth with every passing second as the terrifying combination of space rock, ice and metal speeds through the our Solar System. VR12 is one of 1,882 asteroids that NASA describes as 'potentially hazardous’ as it makes its approach to the planet at speeds of 6.3 kilometers per second, or 22,680 kmh within 3.8 Lunar Distances of our planet, where one LD is the average distance between Earth and the Moon. Astronomers expect the asteroid from the depths of space to skim past the planet tomorrow, March 7 around 7.53 am EST . NASA expects the asteroid to approach Earth within 0.09 AU, or 1,346,380 km.

NASA’s Near Earth Object (NEO) astronomers categories “Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) as space rocks bigger than 100 meters in diameter, which run the risk of coming closer to Earth than 0.05 AU, or 7,479,894 kilometers.



NASA: “Every day, Earth is bombarded with more than 100 tons of dust and sand-sized particles. About once a year, an automobile-sized asteroid hits Earth's atmosphere, creates an impressive fireball, and burns up before reaching the surface. Every 2,000 years or so, a meteoroid the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage to the area. Only once every few million years, an object large enough to threaten Earth's civilisation comes along. Impact craters on Earth, the moon and other planetary bodies are evidence of these occurrences.”

The first asteroid was Ceres, discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801. There are currently over 600,000 known asteroids in our solar system. Most asteroids are found orbiting in the Asteroid Belt, a series of rings located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.





Sixty Five million years ago, the most famous asteroid in history slammed into Earth and most likely exterminated the dinosaurs. Disconcertingly, we are no less likely to be to hit by an asteroid today than our ancient reptilian counterparts were — but luckily we have helpful tools at our disposal.

The impact occurred 65 million years ago when an asteroid approximately 12 kilometers (7 miles) wide slammed into Earth. The collision took place near what is now the Yucatán peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico. The asteroid is often cited as a potential cause of the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, a mass extinction that erased up to 75 percent of all plant and animal species.



A 100-meter asteroid (with the same composition and speed as the 10-meter asteroid) would release 1000 Hiroshimas. An asteroid with a diameter of one kilometer would do much greater damage, and an asteroid of 10 kilometers would be like the one that killed off the dinosaurs. It would sterilize an entire continent and cause major global damage.

On average, one of these huge 10-kilometer asteroids strikes Earth every 50 million years, and the last one was 65 million years ago — meaning we are now overdue. We know about most asteroids of this size in the Solar System – we’ve studied their orbits, their characteristics, and we can predict their chance of impact. But as the asteroids get smaller, the less we know of them.

The ESO team estimates that about 70–80% of asteroids from 500 meters to 1 kilometers in diameter are known, but only about 10% of asteroids 100 meters in diameter are known. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) is working to improve these numbers.

The Daily Galaxy via NASA and ESO

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"Stop Saying That Dinosaurs Went Extinct. They Didn't"</s>Asteroid VR12 is nearing our planet with every passing second as the terrifying combination of space rock, ice and metal speeds through the cosmos. With a diameter of 287 metres the asteroid is a sight to behold – almost as wide as London’s imposing Shard skyscraper is tall. VR12 has now been named one of 1,882 asteroids that are described as 'potentially hazardous’ as it makes its approach to the planet. Hitting terrifying speeds of 6.3 kilometres per second, or 22,680 kmh, astronomers expect the astroid from the depths of space to skim past the planet tomorrow, March 7 around 7.53am TDB.

Thankfully there appears to be absolutely no cause for concern because the speeding asteroid will just about miss the planet. At its minimum distance, NASA expects the asteroid to approach Earth within 0.09 AU, or 1,346,380 km. Asteroid VR12’s path will take it within 3.8 Lunar Distances of the Planet, where one LD is the average distance between Earth and the Moon. But the VR12 is still listed on the American space agency’s list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).

NASA’s astronomers categories PHAs as space rocks bigger than 100 metres in diameter, which run the risk of coming closer to Earth than 0.05 AU, or 7,479,894 km. The space agency explained: “Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid's potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth. “Specifically, all asteroids with an Earth Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) of 0.05 au or less and an absolute magnitude (H) of 22.0 or less are considered PHAs. “In other words, asteroids that can't get any closer to the Earth (i.e., MOID) than 0.05 au (roughly 7,480,000 km or 4,650,000 mi) or are smaller than about 140 m (~500 ft) in diameter (i.e., H = 22.0 with assumed albedo of 14%) are not considered PHAs.”

Based on its orbital movement, NASA has been able to track its movement through time. VR12 last fellow past Earth on June 17 2010 and will next visit the planet on march 19 in the year 2026. But as horrendous as the prospect of VR12 may be, the reality is that hundreds of smaller asteroids pelt the planet on a daily basis, and burn up in the atmosphere before reaching the ground. NASA said: “Every day, Earth is bombarded with more than 100 tons of dust and sand-sized particles.
Near-Earth asteroid 2017 VR12 makes a flyby past Earth.