Hurtling asteroid expected to buzz Earth today

by Stevie Smith - Jan 13 2010, 05:36

Budding stargazers eyeing the sky on Wednesday night may just lay their lucky peepers on a strange object whizzing past the planet, according to NASA scientists. However, while some may be tempted to call in a UFO report, the U.S. space administration has said the unusual object is little more than a small passing asteroid.

The asteroid in question, which has been named ‘2010 AL30’ and is approximately 11 metres in size, was discovered by diligent astronomers earlier this week and is expected to be closest to Earth at around 07:45 EST, at which point it will be within a distance of around 130,000 kilometres.

According to Space.com, initial scientific assessment of the object’s trajectory suggested it may actually be part of a derelict spacecraft, but NASA later confirmed it to be just a lump of rocky detritus hurtling onward through the galaxy.

If you’re armed with a decent telescope and are keen to catch a glimpse of 2010 AL30 as it moves across the sky, the asteroid is expected to pass through the constellations of Orion, Taurus and Pisces and will appear as bright as a 14th magnitude star.

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