A large asteroid designated 1997 NC1 will safely pass by Earth on Saturday morning, June 27, 2026, according to the European Space Agency.
The space rock poses no threat of collision with our planet.
>>> Vanilla Ice Defends America 250 Performance Amid Controversy
Tracking data shows the asteroid will make its closest approach at a distance of 1.6 million miles (2.6 million kilometers), well beyond the moon's orbit.
Estimated to measure between 2,461 and 5,413 feet wide, the object is roughly the size of two to four Empire State Buildings stacked together.
Discovered nearly three decades ago by an asteroid-tracking system based in Hawaii, 1997 NC1 will not come this close to Earth again until 2133, according to NASA calculations.
>>> Canadiens Select Brayden Klimpke 117th Overall in 2026 NHL Draft
Skygazers with binoculars or small telescopes may be able to see the asteroid as a tiny, moving point of light passing harmlessly through the night sky.
A similar safe approach occurred in 2022 when asteroid 1994 PC1 flew past Earth at an even closer distance.
>>> Neck Injury Scratches Marina Mabrey From Toronto Tempo Matchup
Global monitoring networks, including NASA and the European Space Agency, continuously scan for potential orbital threats to maintain planetary defense.
