A large asteroid is expected to pass closer to Earth than some satellites within the next 900 days, according to Forbes. The outlet reported the forecast on Saturday, describing the object as giant and its approach as a notably close one.
Forbes framed the event by comparing the asteroid's path to the orbits of satellites, which typically circle the planet at relatively low altitudes. That comparison suggests the flyby will bring the object nearer to Earth than is usual for such bodies, though the report did not specify the asteroid's size, its exact distance or the date of the approach.
The headline places the encounter roughly two and a half years out, a window that gives astronomers time to refine their tracking data. Close approaches are a routine focus of planetary observation, and forecasts of this kind are typically updated as new measurements come in.
Forbes did not, in the material available, identify the asteroid or say whether it poses any risk. The report's emphasis was on the proximity of the pass rather than on any impact threat.
What to watch next: further reporting and updated orbital calculations as the 900-day window narrows, which should clarify the object's size, its closest distance and the exact timing of the flyby.
