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Asteroid passing Earth will be closer than moon

This image shows the relative locations of asteroid 2014 DX110 and Earth on March 4, 2014. The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth on March 5 at about 1 p.m. PST (4 p.m. EST). (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An asteroid is headed this way. But even though it will come closer than the moon, astronomers say it will pose no danger.

The newly discovered asteroid, called 2014 DX110, will hurtle between the moon and Earth on Wednesday. DX110 will pass an estimated 217,000 miles from Earth.

That’s approximately nine-tenths of the distance between the moon and Earth.

The asteroid is an estimated 45 to 130 feet across.

Relatively close approaches like this occur all the time, although DX110 is extra close.

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Online:

NASA: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/

Minor Planet Center: http://minorplanetcenter.net/

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