Asteroid Coming Close Friday: Don't Worry, We're Safe
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - Another asteroid is headed our way - the second this week - but there's no need to worry.
The newly discovered space rock will pass within 39,000 miles (64,000 kilometers) of Earth on Friday afternoon. That's less than one-fifth the distance to the moon.
Designated 2018 CB, the asteroid is an estimated 50 feet to 130 feet (15 meters to 40 meters) in size, possibly bigger than the one that exploded over Russia in 2013.
What's new in the neighborhood? Two small asteroids safely passing Earth this week within the orbit of the moon. 2018 CC passed today; 2018 CB will pass Friday at a distance of 39,000 mi or 64,000 km (GIF). More: https://t.co/kaW5b6d8MX pic.twitter.com/AnQyGLbDXJ
— Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) February 7, 2018
NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies says asteroids this size usually don't come this close - just once or twice a year.
It will be the second time this week an asteroid buzzes us. On Tuesday, an asteroid passed within 114,000 miles (184,000 kilometers), slightly more than halfway to the moon.
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