Asteroid 2005 YU55: Massive Asteroid Barely Misses Earth (VIDEO)

By Herbert Pinnock, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, November 09, 2011

An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier came within 202,000 miles from slamming into Earth on Tuesday; the asteroid was closer to the Earth than the moon.

 Asteroid Missing Earth 2011: Aircraft-Carrier-Sized Asteroid Barely Missed Slamming into Earth

In what could be described as too close for comfort, according to scientists, the object came within the moons orbit. To illustrate the point even clearer, the distance between the Earth and the moon is 239,000 miles.

According to experts, if an object the size of the asteroid had collided with the Earth it would have created a crater four miles across and 1,700 feet deep. In the event it had veered into the ocean, it would have caused 70-foot-high tsunami waves.

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Scientists have been tracking the asteroid, which is known as 2005 YU55, since 2005 and more concentratedly since last week as it descended from the direction of the sun at 29,000 mph.

Asteroids are the results of failed planets. Scientists assess that the gravitational pull of Jupiter stunted their growth.

Asteroids can periodically be seen after they break off from larger solar masses into smaller pieces and fly through the atmosphere in a fiery brilliance known as a meteorite.

Researchers will reportedly examine radar images of the asteroid to learn more about the object's surface, as well as features and shape.