Largest Asteroid To Approach Earth In 2021 Coming Close This Month

The "largest asteroid" expected to come close to Earth this year will do so this month, and you can catch it live.

Asteroid 2001 FO32 will come as close as 1.25 million miles from the Earth on March 21. According to NASA, that's about 5 1/4 the distance between the Earth and the moon. Although it's not expected to get any closer, that distance is still considered to be quite close in astronomical terms, which is why it's still considered a "potentially hazardous asteroid."

What's more, it is expected to approach our planet at a faster speed than most asteroids do at 77,000 miles per hour. However, NASA clarified that there is said to be no risk that it will collide with Earth "now or for centuries to come."

At 1,300 to 2,230 feet (440 to 680 meters) wide, 2001 FO32 is still not exactly on the large size, NASA explained, but it is the largest asteroid to pass the planet in 2021. Even the Apophis, the "God of Chaos" asteroid that made a close fly-by only recently, is smaller than 2001 FO32 at about 1,120 feet (340 meters) in diameter.

How To Catch 2001 FO32's Close Approach

FO32 is considered to be quite faint, so it won't be easy to spot without a telescope.

"[I]t will be 100,000 times fainter than the faintest stars you can see by eye," Alan Fitzsimmons, an astrophysics professor at Queen's University Belfast, told Dazed.

Fortunately, those who would like to catch a glimpse of it may still do so via the Virtual Telescope Project's live feed of the event.

Amateur astronomers in the southern hemisphere are also encouraged to whip out their telescopes on the day of the event since it will be more visible in those areas, NASA said.

"The asteroid will be brightest while it moves through southern skies," the Center of Near-Earth Object Studies Director Paul Chodas said as per NASA. "Amateur astronomers in the southern hemisphere and at low northern latitudes should be able to see this asteroid using moderate size telescopes with apertures of at least 8 inches in the nights leading up to closest approach, but they will probably need star charts to find it."

Unique Opportunity

It was in March 2001 when the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research in New Mexico discovered asteroid 2001 FO32. But not a lot is known about the asteroid to this day, Lance Brenner, Jet Propulsion Laboratory's principal scientist, explained.

As such, the upcoming close approach isn't just a matter of observing a potential hazard, it also provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the object. For its part, NASA will observe the asteroid using various instruments, while amateur astronomers' observations may also add important information about 2001 FO32.

"The interplanetary interloper won't come closer than 1.25 million miles to Earth, but it will present a valuable scientific opportunity for astronomers," NASA said.

After the March 21 close approach, the next time that it will come this close to Earth will be in 2052.