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.
There's no need to panic though, as the asteroid will pass safely by Earth at a distance of 1.2 million miles.
Near-Earth #asteroid 1994 PC1 (~1 km wide) is very well known and has been studied for decades by our #PlanetaryDefense experts. Rest assured, 1994 PC1 will safely fly past our planet 1.2 million miles away next Tues., Jan. 18.
Track it yourself here: https://t.co/JMAPWiirZh pic.twitter.com/35pgUb1anq— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) January 12, 2022
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.
