Huge Asteroid the Size of a Skyscraper to Skim Past Earth Next Week

What is it?

A skyscraper-sized asteroid is set to make a close approach to Earth next week, passing by at a distance of just 2.7 million kilometers (1.7 million miles).

The asteroid, known as 2023 BU, is estimated to be between 1,000 and 3,000 feet (300 and 900 meters) wide, making it roughly the size of the Empire State Building.

When will it pass by?

2023 BU will make its closest approach to Earth on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 4:51 p.m. EST (21:51 UTC).

It will be visible to telescopes in the southern hemisphere, but it will not be visible to the naked eye.

Is it a threat?

No, 2023 BU is not a threat to Earth.

It will pass by at a safe distance from our planet, and there is no risk of it impacting Earth.

What are scientists saying?

Scientists are excited about the opportunity to study 2023 BU.

They will use telescopes to observe the asteroid and learn more about its size, shape, and composition.

This information will help scientists better understand the population of near-Earth asteroids and the potential risks they pose.

Additional information

2023 BU was discovered on January 21, 2023, by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California.

It is the largest near-Earth asteroid to be discovered since 2005.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory maintains a database of near-Earth asteroids and comets, which can be accessed here: https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/