Near impact: Asteroid to narrowly miss Earth
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This image provided by Nasa/JPL-Caltech shows a simulation of asteroid 2012 DA14 approaching from the south as it passes through the Earth-moon system on Feb 15, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Hold on to your hats: an asteroid will zoom within spitting distance of Earth next week, in what Nasa said on Thursday is the closest flyby ever predicted for an object this large.
The 2012 DA 14, discovered by chance by astronomers after passing nearby last February, will be just around 27,700km above Earth's surface when it speeds by, the US Space Agency said.
That's outside the Earth's atmosphere, but closer than the orbit of most weather and communications satellites.
However, despite the close shave, Nasa said there was nothing to fear.
