Asteroid 1997 NC1 to make close approach to Earth

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced that the asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 will pass by Earth on Saturday, June 27. The object, which was discovered in 1997, is estimated to be between 750 and 1,650 meters in diameter, though ESA notes these figures may vary based on albedo calculations. At its closest point at 14:14 (EEST), the asteroid will travel at a speed of 8.9 kilometers per second. It will be 2,559,461 kilometers away from Earth, a distance approximately 6.66 times greater than that between Earth and the Moon. ESA confirmed there is no risk of collision. Juan Luis Cano of the ESA Planetary Defence Office stated that while such close passes are rare, the brightness of the Moon may hinder observations. The asteroid can be viewed with small telescopes or large binoculars from the Northern Hemisphere during approach, and later from the Southern Hemisphere as it moves away.