An asteroid bigger than Manhattan is heading toweards the Earth and is large enough to be seen without the naked eye. The space rock – named (887) Alinda – has an estimated diameter of 4.2km, 2.6miles and will come within a relatively close distance of 7.6million miles of us.
However, the asteroid is not considered hazardous. While it is classified as a “Near Earth Asteroid” due to its proximity to our orbit, Alinda is not on a collision course with our planet. According to space-watching website Virtual Telescope, the asteroid is expected to peak in brightness on Sunday.
They commented: “Considering all the asteroids coming closer than 15 million of kilometers, Alinda is one of the five largest ones in size from now until 2200.”
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Manhattan is 3.7 km wide at its widest point.