An asteroid bigger than Manhattan is heading toweards the Earth and is large enough to be seen without the naked eye. The space rock – named (887) Alinda – has an estimated diameter of 4.2km, 2.6miles and will come within a relatively close distance of 7.6million miles of us.
However, the asteroid is not considered hazardous. While it is classified as a “Near Earth Asteroid” due to its proximity to our orbit, Alinda is not on a collision course with our planet. According to space-watching website Virtual Telescope, the asteroid is expected to peak in brightness on Sunday.
They commented: “Considering all the asteroids coming closer than 15 million of kilometers, Alinda is one of the five largest ones in size from now until 2200.”
Manhattan is 3.7 km wide at its widest point.