from The Sun

Earth set for an ‘asteroid encounter’ THIS WEEK and 750ft space rock could be ‘potentially hazardous’

Nasa’s eagle-eyed asteroid hunting team have spotted 1803 potentially hazardous asteroids

By Margi Murphy

This asteroid rotation map shows how close 441987 (2010 NY65) will swoop by the EarthThis asteroid rotation map shows how close 441987 (2010 NY65) will swoop by the Earth

A ROCK hurtling through space will make a close encounter with Earth on Saturday, according to Nasa.

But don’t cancel the BBQ just yet – it’s unlikely to smash into our planet.

If it did, it could potentially wipe out life as we know it.

So Nasa is keeping an eye on it just in case.

The asteroid – named 441987 (2010 NY65) – is marked as a concern because it’s 230 metres in diameter and travelling just 7.9 lunar distances (that’s about three million km) from us.

[ click to continue reading at The Sun ]