For all you space fans out there, next week we will be passed by a 1,300 food wide asteroid as it makes its way past Earth, coming within 202,000 miles - closer than the moon to Earth.  Asteroid scientists are excited about the unique opportunity to study a large asteroid this close to our planet.

Though this time around, asteroid 2005 YU55 will not come close enough to be a risk, scientists estimate that an asteroid of its size would cause a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and 70-foot tsunami waves up to 60 miles away if it were to strike Earth somewhere in the ocean.  These impacts are estimated to occur only one time in 100,000 years.  Because of the potential risks that can occur when asteroids do strike Earth, scientists are eager to study these behemoths to be better able to understand them and plan for potential collisions.We hear about asteroids rather frequently, but large asteroids do not make their way near Earth all that often.  In fact, the next asteroid to come close to Earth will not do so until 2028, and 2005 YU55 will not make another appearance until nearly the end of the century, in 2094.

2005 YU55, named after its discovery date in December 2005, is the size of an aircraft carrier.  2005 YU55 will not be visible for most of the day on November 8, but late in the day and early into November 9, you may be able to see it through a small telescope.