Car-sized asteroid flies within 2,950km of Earth – the closest pass ever – and we didn’t see it coming

A car-sized asteroid flew within about 2,950km (1,830 miles) of Earth on Sunday.That’s a remarkably close shave – the closest ever recorded, in fact, according to asteroid trackers and a catalogue compiled by Sormano Astronomical Observatory in Italy.Because of its size, the space rock likely wouldn’t have posed any danger to people on the ground had it struck our planet. But the close call is worrisome nonetheless, since astronomers had no idea the asteroid existed until after it passed by…

from South China Morning Post https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3097754/car-sized-asteroid-flies-within-2950km-earth-closest-pass-ever-and-we