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An asteroid bigger than an aircraft carrier will dart between the Earth and moon on Tuesday - the closest encounter by such a huge rock in 35 years.
But scientists say not to worry. It won't hit.
Don Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near Earth Object Program, assures us that he is 100 percent confident that it won’t hit.
The asteroid, named 2005 YU55, is being watched by ground antennas as it approaches from the direction of the sun. The last time it came within so-called shouting distance was 200 years ago.
Closest approach will occur at 6:28 pm EST on Tuesday when the asteroid passes within 325,000 km of Earth. That's closer than the roughly 386,000 km between the Earth and the moon.
The moon will be just under 241,000 km from the asteroid at the time of closest approach.
If 2005 YU55 were to plow into the home planet, it would blast out a crater 6.4 km across and 510 meters deep, according to expert calculations.
Scientists have been tracking the slowly spinning, spherical, dark-colored object since its discovery in 2005, and are positive it won't do any damage.
Smaller objects come close all the time, but nothing this big will have ventured so close since 1976. And nothing this large will again until 2028.
Radar observations from California and Puerto Rico will help scientists ascertain whether the asteroid is pockmarked with craters and holds any water-bearing minerals or even frozen water.
Amateur astronomers would need a 15-centimeter-or-bigger telescope and know exactly where to look to spot it.
Astronomers consider 2005 YU55 a C-type asteroid - one containing carbon-based materials.
Such objects are believed to have brought carbon-based materials and water to the early Earth, planting the seeds for life. The discovery of water-bearing minerals or ice would support that theory.
This is the type of asteroid that NASA would want to aim for, with astronauts, especially if frozen water is found. Such asteroids could serve as watering holes and fueling stations for future explorers.
Questions:
1. What is the name of the asteroid?
2. When was the last time the asteroid came this close?
3. How wide of a telescope do amateur astronomers need?
Answers:
1. 2005 YU55.
2. 200 years ago.
3. 15 cm or bigger.
（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Emily Cheng is an editor at China Daily. She was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in Media, English Literature and Politics. She has worked in the media industry since starting university and this is the third time she has settled abroad - she interned with a magazine in Hong Kong 2007 and studied at the University of Leeds in 2009.
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