Close asteroid pass August 21
A good-sized asteroid will pass by Earth on Saturday, August 21, 2021. There is no danger it will strike our planet. It’s been designated as asteroid 2016 AJ193. It’s estimated to be just under a mile wide (1.4 km wide). And it’s moving fast. It’s traveling at 58,538 miles per hour (94,208 km/h) relative to Earth. That’s about about 16 miles per second (26.17 km per second). Closest approach to Earth will occur on August 21, 2021, at 11:10 a.m. ET (15:10 UTC). This means amateur astronomers with 8-inch telescopes (or larger) have an opportunity see this asteroid glide by early on August 21, just hours before sunrise. [link to earthsky.org (secure)]