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Enormous asteroid 'the size of Carrauntoohil' to fly past Earth tonight

The massive 1994 PCI asteroid is due to pass close to Earth at around 9:50pm tonight.
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

09.27 18 Jan 2022


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Enormous asteroid 'the size of...

Enormous asteroid 'the size of Carrauntoohil' to fly past Earth tonight

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

09.27 18 Jan 2022


Share this article


An enormous asteroid "the size of Carrauntoohil" is due to pass the Earth tonight.

The 1994 PC1 asteroid is due to pass close to Earth at around 9:50pm tonight.

It's a massive asteroid - around 1.1km in size, or taller than the world's tallest building the Burj Khalifi.

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There's no need to panic though, as the asteroid will pass safely by Earth at a distance of 1.2 million miles.

Space commentator Leo Enright told Newstalk Breakfast this is an unusually large asteroid, but there's no danger to Earth.

He said: "This is not a case like Hollywood of Don’t Look Up.

“What’s interesting about this asteroid is that most asteroids that whizz past the Earth are the size of a family car.

“This one is not the size of a family car - it’s the size of Carrauntoohil. It’s enormous.

“If thing was to hit the Earth at some time in the future, it would be a very, very bad day indeed.”

Don't worry though, as there’s no risk of an impact happening any time soon.

And what about anyone who wants to catch a glimpse of the asteroid in the sky tonight?

Unfortunately, it will be too faint for the human eye to spot - but anyone with a 'reasonably-sized amateur telescope' will be able to spot it.

For everyone else, Leo said there will be a ‘virtual telescope’ live broadcasting a view of the asteroid as it passes by the planet.

Main image via NASA

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