Huge asteroid to skim past Earth February 15

PanARMENIAN.Net - An asteroid capable of destroying a city the size of London will skim past the Earth on Friday, February 15 approaching closer than many satellites, Belfast Telegraph said.

Scientists say they are sure there is no chance of the 45.7 meter-wide space rock hitting the planet.

But there is a remote possibility that it could collide with one of more than 100 telecommunication and weather satellites in fixed orbits above the Earth.

The asteroid, 2012 DA14, has been closely tracked since its discovery a year ago. It is predicted to reach its nearest point to the Earth at around 7.30pm on Friday.

Experts have calculated it will stay at least 27,000 kilometres away -- easily far enough to be safe, but a very close shave in astronomical terms. Scientists have never observed such a narrow miss before.

Through binoculars, the object should be visible as a tiny dot of light crossing the sky.

The asteroid will pose no danger to the International Space Station, which orbits at an altitude of only a few hundred kilometres.