Earth experienced a close shave yesterday when an asteroid came uncomfortably close as it flew past – just 24 hours after it was first observed.
The asteroid 2017 AG13 has an estimated size between 11m and 34m. It flew past Earth on January 9 at a distance of 0,53LD (203 520km), which is about half the distance from the Earth to the moon. Its relative velocity is 15,7km per second.
The asteroid was first observed at Catalina Sky Survey on 7 January 2017.
2017 AG13 will next come close to Earth on 28 December 2017.
The asteroid is about the same size as the one the exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013. In that instance, more than 1 000 people were injured.
