Asteroid 2012 DA14 will will make a record close approach to Earth today and it may be visible through a pair of strong binoculars.
the (150ft) 45 meter rock will pass lower than some communications satelites and will not be near enough to become visible in the evening sky experts say.
The best viewing will be in Austrlia, Asia and Eastern Europe.
Members of the public who desire to winess the asteroid are advised to contact their local astronomical society or watch footages beamed from observatories in Australia online.
Dr Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society said that most people around the globe are going to struggle to see it and those who know their way around the sky could view it using a pair of binoculars.
The asteroid will come closer than any of its size on record, whizzing within the orbit of our most distant communications satelite at about 7pm at a speed of about 17,400 miles per hour (7.8 km per second).
Astromers have admitted that there is a chance that 2012 DA14 could collide with one of the communications satelites as it passes by.
However, the close pass of the asteroids poses no threat to Earth but will give scientists the opportunity to study it.
The asteroid was discovered in February 2012 by spanish astronomers shortly after passing by Earth on its last orbit.
Although similar asteroids have come closer than Friday's approach,objects the size of 2012DA14 are only expected to make such narrow passes about once every 40 years.
Culled from the TELEGRAPH
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