Asteroid to pass by earth: scientists

Scientists say a 30-metre-wide asteroid named 2013 TX68 will miss the earth in the next few days.

An asteroid that was heading towards earth is now predicted to bypass the planet. Image by NASA/JPL. Source: Wikimedia commons

A 30-metre-wide asteroid is heading for a close encounter with earth and could come closer than some orbiting satellites.

But scientists are sure it will miss the earth by at least 24,000km on Sunday, and say there is no need to panic.

The space rock, named 2013 TX68, was spotted three years ago by astronomers in the US scouring the skies for potentially threatening near-earth objects.

Because it was tracked for only 10 days, its orbital path is uncertain.

Experts believe it will make its closest approach to earth on Sunday, although the forecast might be one or two days out.