Football field-sized asteroid to shave by Earth

[TAMPA] An asteroid around the size of a football field is expected to zoom by Earth on Tuesday, but at a safe distance, the US space agency said.

The space rock was discovered in 2010, but only recently did astronomers determine it would not collide with our planet, instead passing at a distance about halfway between the Earth and Moon.

Asteroid 2010 WC9 will make a "close approach" to Earth at 2204 GMT, Nasa said, noting its closest pass will be over the coast of Antarctica.

"At the time of closest approach, the asteroid will be no closer to Earth's surface than about 193,000 kilometers."

A good viewing spot for those equipped with a moderate, 20cm telescope, might be Cape Town, South Africa.

The asteroid is believed to be about 60 to 120m across.

Its speed should clock in at about 12.9 kilometers per second.

Nasa said this approach will be the closest to Earth - for this particular asteroid - for at least two centuries.

Next year, on October 17, 2019, the asteroid will make a distant flyby of Earth at 26.6 million miles.

More than 10,000 asteroids are known to be orbiting near Earth, and scientists regularly keep track of them to monitor for potential strikes.

AFP