Kilometre-long asteroid 2014-JO25 - nicknamed The Rock - to sail past Earth on ThursdayA huge asteroid travelling at 33 metres a second will sail past the Earth on Thursday morning, reminding us all that the universe is a very dynamic and potentially dangerous place. Asteroid 2014-JO25 is a kilometre across and will come closer to the Earth than any asteroid of its size in 13 years. READ MORE:* Asteroid named after kiwi astronomer Michelle Bannister* What happens if an asteroid heads for earth? Well, we're all stuffed* Asteroid shave Earth, hours after astronomers spotted the space rock* Nasa spots comet and mysterious celestial object flying towards EarthSUPPLIED An artist's impression of an asteroid near the Earth. Professor Tim Bedding, head of the school of physics at the University of Sydney, said: "If an asteroid this size hit Earth, it would be catastrophic.

Source: Stuff April 19, 2017 06:16 UTC