A newly discovered asteroid named 2017 BH30 will make an extremely close approach to our planet on January 30, 2017. This is the third very close approach (below 1 LD) since January 9 and the closest one. It is also the closest asteroid flyby since September 6, 2016.

2017 BH30 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was discovered by Catalina Sky Survey today.

Its estimated size is between 4.6 and 10 m (15 - 32.8 feet) and it will flyby at 04:57 UTC on January 30, 2017 at a distance of only 0.17 LD (65 280 km / 40 563 miles) from the surface of Earth. Its estimated velocity (relative to Earth) is 15.46 km/s.

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

Currently, 2016 BH30 has MPC "U" parameter of 8 (orbit uncertainty estimate 0-9, with 0 being good, and 9 being highly uncertain).

This is the closest known asteroid flyby since September 6, 2016.

References:

Asteroid 2017 BH30 at Minor Planet Center; at NASA/JPL

Featured image credit: Minor Planet Center, Edit: TW