A huge asteroid, known as 2004 XP14, skimmed about 432 820km from the Earth late on Sunday and early on Monday.
That’s slightly farther away than the moon.
It was expected to be visible as a small moving dot to amateur sky watchers with good telescopes in North America and as a fainter object viewed from Europe.
Astronomers know little about the asteroid, which was discovered in 2004. But it is estimated to be about 0,8km wide based on its brightness.
More than three dozen asteroids have flown closer to Earth in the last few years, but scientists say 2004 XP14 is one of the largest.
Scientists estimate 2004 XP14 will have 10 more close encounters with Earth over this century, none of which will pose a threat. – Sapa-AP