Massive Asteroid 2004 BL86 to Pass Within 745,000 Miles of Earth

NASA(NEW YORK) — A massive asteroid is set to safely pass Earth on Monday.

According to NASA scientists, the asteroid 2004 BL86 is approximately 1,500 feet across and will come closest to Earth at 11:19 a.m. ET.  At that time, it will be approximately 745,000 miles away.

“Monday, January 26 will be the closest asteroid 2004 BL86 will get to Earth for at least the next 200 years,” said Don Yeomans, the manager of NASA’s Near Earth Object Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “And while it poses no threat to Earth for the foreseeable future, it’s a relatively close approach by a relatively large asteroid, so it provides us a unique opportunity to observe and learn more.”

NASA says observers should be able to see the asteroid using small telescopes and strong binoculars.

The asteroid was first discovered on Jan. 30, 2004 by a telescope in White Sands, New Mexico.

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