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Large asteroid 1997 NC1 makes its closest Earth pass in over four centuries - live watch
The Watchers - Watching the world evolve and transform • • science
Key Points:
- Asteroid 1997 NC1 will pass Earth at 8.9 km/s on June 27 at 11:16 UTC, coming within 6.67 lunar distances (0.017 AU), its closest approach since before 1600, according to NASA JPL data.
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) from the Aten group, 1997 NC1 measures approximately 0.9 km in diameter based on NASA estimates, with ESA providing a size range of 750 to 1,650 meters depending on surface reflectivity assumptions.
- The asteroid will reach a peak brightness near magnitude 10, making it observable with small telescopes or large binoculars under dark skies, although visibility may be affected by the nearby bright Moon.
- Visibility will be best inbound from northern locations, near-global around closest approach, and outbound over the Southern Hemisphere, with a detailed ground track and brightness map available from ESA’s NEOCC.
- The Virtual Telescope Project will host live online viewing sessions with expert commentary on June 26 and 27 starting at 23:00 UTC, as part of the Asteroid Day 2026 celebrations.
