Asteroid 2012 DA14

On February 15, 2013, the near-earth asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass by the earth at a distance of only about 3.2 Earth radii (r = 6,371 km), i.e. ca. 22,500 km. For reference, Earth's distance to the moon is approx. 385,000 km, and even geostationary satellites are ca. 36,000 km away.

Earth and the asteroid share a similar path and their orbits intersect twice per year. Orbits of Earth (green) and 2012 DA14 (yellow) are shown in the picture above (Source: ESA).

2012 DA14 is about 45 m in diameter. Therefore, its brightness viewed from earth will be no more than magnitude 7, i.e. just slightly higher than the visibility with the naked eye.

The asteroid will not impact Earth on that occasion (see Wikipedia).

Predicted path of asteroid 2012 DA14 passing close to Earth on February 15, 2013 (Source: JPL).

Animation of fly-by from YouTube below.