Large Asteroid to Safely Pass Earth Saturday, Visible from France

Earth will experience a close encounter with a large asteroid this Saturday, June 27, but residents need not worry about a collision. The celestial body, identified as (152637) 1997 NC1, is set to pass our planet at its nearest point at 13:14 Paris time, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).

The asteroid, estimated to be between 750 and 1,650 meters in size, will be approximately 2.56 million kilometers away during its closest approach. This distance is roughly 6.66 times the span between the Earth and the Moon, rendering any impact highly improbable.

Astronomers and enthusiasts in the Northern Hemisphere will have an opportunity to observe the asteroid during its approach and closest pass. While small telescopes or large binoculars should suffice for viewing, the ESA cautions that the bright moon might interfere with optimal observation conditions at the moment of closest proximity.

This event, described as a "close passage of the Earth by an object of this size," occurs only every few years. The asteroid, first discovered in 1997, travels at a speed of 8.9 km/s. While observable from the Northern Hemisphere during its approach and closest pass, it will only be visible from the Southern Hemisphere as it recedes from Earth.

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A close passage of the Earth by an object of this size does not happen very often, only every few years, although, this time, the bright and close moon may hinder its observation at the moment when the asteroid will be closest.