Giant Asteroid to Pass by Earth This Weekend – Visible Through Telescopes
Asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 will make its closest approach to Earth in 400 years this weekend, passing at 2.56 million kilometers. It poses no threat and can be observed with amateur telescopes.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that this weekend, asteroid (152637) 1997 NC1 will make its closest approach to Earth in 400 years. There is no risk of impact, but the object will be visible through commercial telescopes and astronomical binoculars from various parts of the world.
The closest approach occurs on Saturday, June 27, when the asteroid will pass 2.56 million kilometers (1.59 million miles) from Earth — that's 6.6 times the Earth-Moon distance. The object, estimated to be between 700 meters and 1.6 kilometers in diameter, will not come this close again until 2133, according to the ESA.
When Will the Asteroid Be Visible? The asteroid will be closest to Earth on Saturday, June 27 at 11:14 UTC. The best viewing time depends on location. In Europe, it will be visible from the night of June 26 to 27, especially in the early morning. In Mexico and the US, the same night is best, before sunrise. For Argentina and the Southern Cone, the night of June 27 to 28 is optimal as the asteroid moves toward the southern sky.
The asteroid will remain visible for several days after its closest approach, though its brightness will gradually fade and its position in the sky will shift. If you miss it the first night, you may still get a chance later, though conditions will be less favorable for northern hemisphere observers.
What Will the Asteroid Look Like? Despite being larger than a skyscraper, the asteroid will be invisible to the naked eye. The ESA estimates it will reach a brightness of about magnitude 10, similar to Neptune. Through a telescope or astronomical binoculars, it will appear as a faint point of light slowly moving among the stars, at a rate of about 40 arc seconds per minute.
What Equipment Do You Need? Even under the clearest sky, the asteroid is 40 times fainter than the faintest stars visible to the human eye. Additionally, the near-full moon will reduce contrast. At closest approach, it will be near the constellations Ophiuchus and Serpens Cauda, south of the bright star Vega. Astronomy apps like Stellarium, Sky Tonight, or SkySafari can help locate it by searching for “1997 NC1.”
Astronomers recommend a commercial telescope with an aperture of at least 100 mm (4 inches), with models of 150–200 mm providing a much more comfortable view. It can also be spotted with 15x70 or 20x80 astronomical binoculars, preferably mounted on a tripod and away from light pollution. If it's cloudy or you lack equipment, the Virtual Telescope Project will host livestreams on June 26 and 27.
