Getting Close

This illustration shows the path of asteroid 2012 DA14 as it swings past Earth on February 15. This side view shows that the asteroid will approach from below Earth's south pole, swing closest to Earth around mid-day, then depart above the north pole. The line that bisects Earth shows the path followed by satellites in geosynchronous orbit, 22,300 miles above Earth. The asteroid will pass between this ring of satellites and Earth, so it will not hit any of them. The asteroid will be too faint to see without a telescope. In the early evening of February 15, it will pass near the Little Dipper, low in the northern sky. [P.Chodas/NASA/JPL]