Published on September 2, 2017
NASA’s ‘defence system is ready.The asteroid will fly past on October 12
This autumn, a large asteroid is to give Earth a very close shave – with the 30-metre space rock flying past just 4,200 miles from our planet.
The flyby will be safe, and the asteroid, 2012 TC4, will miss Earth on October 12 – but it gives NASA to test its new ‘planetary defence system’.
NASA hopes to use an international network of observatories to track 2012 TC4 – which could pass as close as 4,200 miles or as far away as 170,000 miles.
