GoKawiilThe European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed that this weekend, asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 will make its closest approach to Earth in 400 years. There's no risk it will hit Earth, but it will be visible through commercial telescopes and astronomical binoculars from various parts of the world.
The closest approach will occur on Saturday, June 27, when the asteroid will pass 2.56 million kilometers (1.59 million miles) from Earth—a distance equivalent to 6.6 times the distance between Earth and the moon. The object—with a diameter estimated to be between 700 meters and 1.6 kilometers—will not come this close again until 2133, according to the ESA.
When Will the Asteroid Be Visible?
The asteroid will be closest to the Earth on Saturday, June 27 at 11:14 UTC. The best time to view it will depend on your location, though. Here's a rough breakdown for various regions:
Europe: the night of June 26 to 27, especially in the early morning
Mexico: the night of June 26 to 27
The US: the night of June 26 to 27, with the best viewing conditions before sunrise
Argentina and the Southern Cone: the night of June 27 to 28, once the asteroid has moved toward the southern sky
The asteroid will not disappear immediately after its closest approach. It will remain visible for several days, although its brightness will gradually decrease and its position in the sky will shift. If you're unable to observe it on the first night, you'll still have opportunities in the following days, although conditions will be less favorable for those in the northern hemisphere.
What Will the Asteroid Look Like?
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