Asteroid 2012 DA14 will approach within 17,200 miles of Earth when it zooms by during its close encounter this Friday, Feb. 15. That is the closest an asteroid the size of 2012 DA14, which is about 150 feet wide, that astronomers have known about in advance, NASA scientists said.

The asteroid will not only pass between Earth and the moon’s orbit, but also fly lower than the ring of geosynchronous communications, weather and navigationsatellites that fly high above the planet. Asteroid 2012 DA14 will be 5,000 miles closer to Earth than those satellites during the flyby.

No IMPACT is expected. Well, I sure hope so! My biggest fear is a meteor impact causing mile high waves from the ocean.