Small asteroid swings harmlessly past Earth
A file photo of Earth taken from the U.S. spacecraft Messenger en route to the planet Mercury. (August 2,2005) Credit: Getty Images
An asteroid the size of a tour bus has zipped harmlessly past Earth.
The space rock flew 7,600 miles above the Earth's surface. It sailed high above the southern Atlantic Ocean at closest approach.
The asteroid was discovered last week by telescopes in New Mexico. It is between 15 feet and 60 feet wide. Scientists say asteroids this size sail past Earth every six years.
Earlier this year, a smaller space rock came within 3,400 miles of Earth.
'I've never seen fire sitting on the water' Three Newsday photographers talk to NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland about covering the tragic crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.
'I've never seen fire sitting on the water' Three Newsday photographers talk to NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland about covering the tragic crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.
