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2012 DA14 is a near-Earth asteroid with an estimated diameter of 50 meters (160 ft) and an estimated mass of 190,000 metric tons. During its 2013 close passage, the asteroid passed 27,700 km (17,200 mi) from the surface of Earth. This is a record close approach for a known object of this size. The asteroid was discovered on February 23, 2012, by the Observatorio Astronómico de La Sagra, Granada in Spain (J75) seven days after passing 0.0174 AU (2,600,000 km; 1,620,000 mi) from Earth. In 2012 there was a cumulative 0.033% risk estimate (1 in 3,030) of 2012 DA14 impacting Earth sometime between 2026 and 2069. In 2012 it was also known that the asteroid would pass no closer to Earth\’s surface than 3.2 Earth radii during the 2013 passage.

On January 9, 2013, the asteroid was observed again by Las Campanas Observatory and the observation arc increased from 79 days to 321 days. On February 15, 2013 at 19:25 Universal Time, the asteroid passed 0.0002276 AU (34,050 km; 21,160 mi) from the center-point of Earth, with an uncertainty region of about 0.0000001 AU (15 km; 9.3 mi). It passed 27,743 kilometers (17,239 mi) above Earth\’s surface, closer than satellites in geosynchronous orbit. It was not visible to the naked eye, but it briefly peaked at an apparent magnitude of roughly 7.2. The best observation location for the closest approach was Indonesia. Eastern Europe, Asia, and Australia also were well situated from which to observe the asteroid during its closest approach. The asteroid was not expected to pass any closer than 1950 km to any satellites. Goldstone Observatory will observe 2012 DA14 with radar from February 16 to February 20.
The close approach to Earth reduced the orbital period of 2012 DA14 from 368 days to 317 days, and perturbed it from the Apollo class to the Aten class of near-Earth asteroids. Its next notable close approach to Earth will be on 15 February 2046 when it will pass no closer than 0.014 AU (2,100,000 km; 1,300,000 mi) from the center-point of Earth.

Source: Wikipedia

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