Newly discovered asteroid 2016 RB1 will make a very close flyby of Earth on September 7, 2016, passing at 0.1 LD (38 400 km / 23 860 miles) from the surface of our planet.

The size of 2016 RB1, based on absolute magnitude, is estimated to be between 7.3 and 16 m (24 to 52 feet). For comparison, this is about half the size of the asteroid that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia in February 2013, injuring over 1 000 people.

At the moment of its closest approach, around 17:12 UTC tomorrow, 2016 RB1 is expected to flyby Earth at a relative speed of 8.1 km/s. The orbit uncertainty estimate for this object is 8 (on a scale of 0 - 9), highly uncertain.

This Aten class asteroid was first observed by Mt. Lemmon Survey on September 5, 2016.

Asteroid 2016 RB1 orbital diagram for September 7, 2016. Credit: NASA/JPL

Classification: Aten [NEO] - SPK-ID: 3758923

[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]

At the flyby time, the asteroid will be visible from the southern hemisphere only, Gianluca Massi of The Virtual Telescope Project said. He managed to track the object on September 6 and take several images.

asteroid #2016RB1 coming exceptionally, but safely at 40.000km from us in less than one day. https://t.co/WJq2mlvId9 pic.twitter.com/RhW5gOArdj — Virtual Telescope (@VirtualTelescop) September 6, 2016

Featured image: Asteroid 2016RB1 orbital diagram - September 7, 2016. Credit: NASA/JPL