Last chance to spot asteroid

IF YOUR skies are clear tonight - or if you catch a break in the cloud - you may spot asteroid 2004 BL86 as it flies past the Earth just 1.2million kilometres away.

Classed as a “potentially dangerous” asteroid because of its 500m size – the size of a small hill – it will be visible in the eastern sky from France and the rest of Europe from early evening until dawn.

Most asteroids are too small and too distant to be visible but, despite travelling at 50,000kph, 2004 BL86 can be spotted in the constellations of Hydra and Cancer (between Jupiter and brightest star Sirius) using a good pair of binoculars.

Observers may recognise it as it will be travelling in the opposite direction to all the other objects in the sky.

Astronomers have calculated that it will not come as close to the Earth again for 200 years – but “close” is rather relative as its 1.2million kilometre distance is three times the distance to the Moon.

Nasa’s Near Earth Object Program Office say that another asteroid, named 1999 AN10, will pass much closer in 2027. It is calculated to be just 300,000km away – closer than the Moon.

Nasa has put a starchart showing the position of the asteroid through the evening on its website.