Asteroid approach: NASA spots a 'potentially hazardous' rock flying past Earth at 26000MPH

The asteroid is also big and bright enough for asteroid trackers to consider it potentially hazardous.

Although the upcoming flyby poses no risk to Earth’s safety, there is a slim chance the gravitational push and pull of other objects in the solar system could influence DT3’s orbit.

NASA said: “Potentially hazardous asteroids are about 150 meters – almost 500 feet – or larger, roughly twice as big as the Statue of Liberty is tall.

“They approach Earth's orbit to within 7.5 million kilometres – about 4.6 million miles.

“By comparison, when Mars and Earth are at their closest, they are about 53 million kilometres – about 33 million miles – apart.”

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