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Asteroid Zips By Earth On Wednesday

Posted at 1:36 PM, Mar 05, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-05 16:33:36-05

screenshot_23GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (March 5,2014) — A rock measuring about 100 feet across  zipped by Earth at around 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday March 5.  NASA reports that the closest the asteroid, 2014 DX110, will get to the planet is about 217,000 miles.  Scientists say this is a safe distance away.  Asteroids safely pass by the planet about 20 times per year.

The asteroid was detected through a NASA program called “Spaceguard.”  According their website, scientists track and characterize asteroids and comets using both ground and space based telescopes.

Learn more about asteroids and near-Earth objects here.