Apophis asteroid: Large space rock flies past Earth [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

9 January 2013 Last updated at 15:25 GMT

Apophis asteroid: Large space rock flies past Earth

By Rebecca Morelle
Science reporter, BBC World Service

A 300m-wide asteroid is making a close pass to the Earth.

Apophis - named after the Egyptian demon of destruction and darkness - has been put on a watch list by scientists.

They have calculated that in 2036 there is a very small chance it could collide with our planet.

However, its current fly-by is at a safe distance of about 14 million km - but this is close enough for astronomers to study the space rock and assess its future risk.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20961003