Astronauts fly past Earth, get a chance to study asteroid

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — An asteroid big enough to wipe out a city, will zip harmlessly between Earth and the moon's orbit this weekend, missing both celestial bodies.

Saturday s close encounter will give astronomers the chance to study a space rock from just over 100,000 miles away. It is less than half the distance from here to the moon, making it visible through binoculars and small telescopes.

While asteroid flybys are common, NASA said it is rare for one so big to come so close — about once a decade. Its size is estimated to be somewhere between 130 feet and 300 feet.

A month ago, the asteroid known as 2023 DZ 2 will pass within 320,000 miles of the moon on Saturday and, several hours later, buzz the Indian Ocean at about 17,500 mph.

The European Space Agency s planetary defense chief Richard Moissl said in a statement that there is no chance that this city killer will strike Earth, but its close approach offers a great opportunity for observations.

Astronomers with the International Asteroid Warning Network see it as a good practice for planetary defense if and when a dangerous asteroid heads our way, according to NASA.

Although there seemed to be a slight chance it might strike Earth, scientists have since ruled that out.