An asteroid which is around 1.2 miles wide will pass Earth next week and also it will apparently look like it’s wearing a face mask.

The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico captured a radar picture of the area rock which they approximate will be zipping our planet on 29 April.

The planet – which is called asteroid 1998 OR2 – will certainly be moving at 19,461 miles per hr and also will certainly pass within 3.9 million miles (or 6.3 million kilometres) of Earth. Essentially, you don’t require to worry about any feasible accidents.

Back in ’98 when the asteroid was found, NASA explained that if it did influence Earth it is ‘big enough to trigger international results’.

Speaking of 1998 OR2’s upcoming visit, Anne Virkki, head of global radar at Arecibo Observatory said: “The small topographic attributes such as hills and also ridges on one end of asteroid 1998 OR2 are fascinating medically.

“But since we are all considering Covid-19, these functions make it look like 1998 OR2 kept in mind to wear a mask.”

The asteroid is expected to pass on Wednesday (29 April) at 5:56 am ET – which indicates it’ll be 9:56 am GMT.

The scientists at the observatory aren’t the only ones keeping an eye on 1998 OR2. For example, Italian astrophysicist Gianluca Masi, who runs the online Virtual Telescope Project, has actually been tracking the asteroid as well.

On 28 April Masi will organize a real-time webcast about 1998 OR2 that will include telescope views of the things.

Even though 1998 OR2 isn’t going to present a threat, it will still be carefully checked so that specialists can identify it’s course in the future.

Flaviane Venditti, a research study researcher at the observatory informed 7News: “The radar measurements permit us to understand extra precisely where the planet will be in the future, including its future close techniques to Earth.

“In 2079, planet 1998 OR2 will pass Earth regarding 3.5 times closer than it will certainly this year, so it is very important to recognize its orbit precisely.”