Get Ready, Stargazers!

Tonight, a colossal asteroid, measuring approximately 1,200 feet (366 meters) in diameter—roughly the size of a football stadium—will make its closest-ever approach to Earth! This "potentially hazardous" space rock, named 2020 XR, is hurtling through space at a staggering speed of 27,500 miles per hour (44,300 kilometers per hour).

The Closest Pass

The closest pass is expected at 0:27 ET on December 4, bringing the asteroid to a record-setting distance of just 1.37 million miles (2.2 million kilometers) from our planet, according to the elite scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

How to Catch the Show

Wondering how to catch this awe-inspiring event? You can witness the historic flyby via a free livestream hosted by the Virtual Telescope Project (VTP), which kicks off at 13:30 ET today (December 3). Impressively, even amateur astronomers can view this remarkable spectacle using telescopes as small as 8 inches (20 centimeters) in diameter, thanks to clear skies expected across many regions.

What is 2020 XR?

NASA classifies 2020 XR as a near-Earth object (NEO), which means its orbit occasionally brings it within 1.3 astronomical units (AU) of the sun—about 1.3 times the average distance from the Earth to the sun. Any NEO like 2020 XR that can approach within 4,650,000 miles (7,500,000 kilometers) of Earth and is larger than 500 feet (150 meters) is deemed "potentially hazardous." But fear not—NASA assures us that tonight's flyby poses no threat to our planet.

Expert Insights

"We initially thought 2020 XR could potentially impact Earth in 2028," stated Juan Luis Cano from the European Space Agency's Near-Earth Object Coordination Center. "However, by revisiting older data, we refined its trajectory and confirmed it poses no danger."

Historical Significance

The last time 2020 XR came close to Earth was back in December 1977—before it was even discovered! At that time, its minimum distance from Earth was a whopping 10 million miles (16 million kilometers) farther than the anticipated close pass tonight.

Mark Your Calendars!

This asteroid won't return to such proximity again until 2196, although it will fly past Earth again in November 2028 at a much greater distance of approximately 11.3 million miles (18.2 million kilometers).

An Opportunity to Witness Cosmic Wonders

This event is more than just a cosmic occurrence; it's an opportunity to witness the wonders of our universe. Be sure not to miss it—tonight could be a night full of discoveries and awe!