New Zealand Science Teacher

Small asteroid sails close to Earth

09/06/2013

Asteroid 2013 LR6 passed above Tasmania, Australia.

An asteroid the size of a small truck has passed Earth, at a distance four times closer than the moon, scientists say.

NASA said Asteroid 2013 LR6 was discovered about a day before its closest approach to Earth, which was about 105,000km over the Southern Ocean, south of Tasmania, Australia on June 8, 2013.

Asteroid 2013 LR6 is thought to have posed no threat to Earth.

It follows a larger one last week that sailed past with its own moon in tow, and measured 2.7km wide.

NASA says it can find about 95% of all asteroids with orbits close to Earth, and other space stations and research agencies are also tracking them.