Creepy and kooky? Big, ‘Spooky’ asteroid to fly by Earth on Halloween

An asteroid the size of a football stadium will zoom past Earth on Halloween, in a close encounter that astronomers view as far more treat than trick. The massive asteroid 2015 TB145 will come within 310,000 miles (500,000 kilometers) of the planet — or about 1.3 times the distance from Earth to the moon — on the afternoon of Oct. 31, just three weeks after the space rock was discovered, according to NASA. There’s no threat of an impact on this pass, NASA officials said.

The flyby presents a truly outstanding scientific opportunity to study the physical properties of this object.

Researchers wrote in an online observing plan.

Astronomers estimate the diameter of 2015 TB145, which is also known as “Spooky,” to be between 950 feet and 2,130 feet (290 to 650 meters). The Halloween flyby will mark the closest known encounter with such a big asteroid until August 2027, researchers said. The asteroid, which will be traveling 78,000 mph (125,500 km/h) relative to Earth during the flyby, “should be one of the best radar targets of the year,” they added. The public will be able to track 2015 TB145 as well, thanks to the online Slooh Community Observatory and Virtual Telescope Project.