An asteroid the length of six football pitches will fly past Earth today.

The rock will miss us by more than 700,000 miles, but should be visible to through telescopes and binoculars.

The trajectory of the asteroid | Image: NASA

It will be the closest known asteroid of this size to pass near the planet. It is due to pass the Earth shortly after 4pm.

Science commentator Leo Enright told Newstalk Breakfast he does not understand what the big deal is.