NASA have released details of the proposed trajectory of an asteroid – named 2012 DA14 – which it is hoped will just miss Earth by some 15,000 miles.
The chunk of 45-metre wide rock, which is said to have the potential destructive power of a hydrogen bomb should it strike the planet, will pass close to Earth on February 15.
The space agency are hoping to observe the passage of the meteorite to learn potential future threats from asteroids.
It will fly closer to earth than satellites in orbit in what is thought to be the nearest fly past of an asteroid known.
It is possible one of the satellites could be struck by the rock, which would give stargazers the best possible chance of catching sight of it – with the help of a telescope.
Don Yeomans, of Nasa's Near Earth Object Programme, said: "It will be a record-setting close approach though the orbit of the asteroid is known well enough to rule out an impact."
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