The asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 will pass close to Earth on Saturday evening, without risk of collision.

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced that the asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 will pass close to Earth on Saturday at 11:14 GMT, traveling at a speed of 8.9 km/s.

It will be 2,559,461 kilometers away from Earth, equivalent to 6.66 Earth-Moon distances, which makes the risk of collision zero. Juan Luis Cano from ESA's planetary defense office mentioned that such a close pass of an asteroid of this size is rare, and the bright Moon could hinder observation. Discovered in 1997, the asteroid is estimated to be between 750 and 1,650 meters in size, but estimates vary.

Observations will be possible from the northern hemisphere during the approach, and from around the world at the closest point, and then from the southern hemisphere. The asteroid can be admired with small telescopes or large binoculars.