The object, known as Asteroid 2006 QQ23, is expected to skim past Earth within a week. The celestial body is around 570 metres in diameter and is one of around six asteroids of this size that come by Earth each year. NASA has dispelled concerns that the rock - which has been branded as “potentially hazardous” - will hit Earth.

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Planetary defence officers for NASA Lindley Johnson and Kelly Fast told CNN that there is nothing to fear.

Ms Fast said: "It's the ones we don't know about that we're concerned about.”

Mr Johnson even said the asteroid was “more or less benign”.

The asteroid is expected to skim past Earth at a distance of 7.4 million kilometres on August 10.

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