Asteroid Icarus to Make Closest Approach to Earth Tuesday

By Katy Galimberti, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

June 15,2015; 9:50PM,EDT

 

Asteroid Icarus, which stretches more than half a mile long, will pass within "close-range" to the earth on Tuesday.
The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth on Tuesday, passing within five million miles.
Though the asteroid will be in close proximity, it will be too dim to be seen through everyday backyard telescopes.
Astronaut Terry Virts captured a sunrise from the International Space Station. (Twitter Photo/@AstroTerry)
For those hoping to catch a glimpse of the space rock, Slooh will run a live broadcast from the Canary Islands starting at 5 p.m. EDT.
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"We're perfectly safe of course, but close approaches like this one are always a reminder that our Solar System is a dynamic place, and that asteroids are thought to have played an important role in our past," Slooh Astronomer Will Gater said.
At .6 miles long, the asteroid is roughly the size of three Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other.

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Have questions, comments, or a story to share? Email Katy Galimberti at kathryn.galimberti@accuweather.com, follow her on Twitter @AccuKaty. Follow us @breakingweather, or on Facebook and Google+.