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'Potentially hazardous' asteroid to pass Earth this weekend

Posted at 3:35 PM, Dec 10, 2021
and last updated 2021-12-10 17:35:05-05

SALT LAKE CITY — For those with plans this weekend, it may be a good idea to wait a bit before heading outside.

Okay, that's a serious overreaction, but you never know.

NASA says the "potentially hazardous" asteroid 4660 Nereus, which is the size of the Eiffel Tower, will pass by Earth on Saturday, although it will remain around 2.4 million miles away from the planet.

While that seems far, NASA categorizes any object larger that 500 feet a hazard if it comes within 4.7 million miles of Earth.

The asteroid was discovered in 1982 and is valued at $4.71 billion due to it being full of nickel, iron and cobalt, USA Today reports.

So either duck, or get a big net to haul it in and break the bank.