A large asteroid as wide as the wingspan of a Boeing 747 passed by the Earth recently, and scientists didn't even see it coming. Dubbed 2021 SG, accor

747-sized asteroid skimmed by Earth, and scientists didn't see it coming

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2021-09-23 01:30:03

A large asteroid as wide as the wingspan of a Boeing 747 passed by the Earth recently, and scientists didn't even see it coming.

Dubbed 2021 SG, according to the NASA-backed International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, the asteroid has a diameter of anywhere between 42-94 meters, with an average diameter of 68 meters. This size is around the wingspan of a 747, and is also around the height of the Cinderella Castle in Disney World and around half the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The asteroid flew past the Earth on September 16, as noted by asteroid tracker EarthSky. However, scientists only detected it the next day.

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This may seem surprising, given how many asteroids are routinely detected by astronomers and space agencies all over the world. However, this asteroid came from a relative blindspot: the direction of the Sun.