Say... Is That Dot In The Sky Getting Closer?

We don't want to sound like alarmists... but word is, this July 4th holiday weekend many of us are enjoying could have been a LOT longer.

Scientists report that late Sunday night, unbeknownest to the vast majority of people, a large asteroid whizzed by Earth at a distance just slightly farther out than the Moon... about 269,000 miles. That's the cosmic equivalent of a very near miss.

The asteroid, first discovered in 2004, made its closest approach to Earth near the west coast of the US at just before 9:30 pm PDT Sunday night.

The Associated Press reports scientists say it's not so much the distance that caught their attention -- more than three dozen asteroids have past closer to Earth over the past several years -- but the asteroid's size. 2004 XP14 is estimated to be as wide as a half-mile -- which, if it impacted the planet, could pretty much wipe out life as we know it.

Fortunately, scientists say we have no need to call in the likes of Bruce Willis just yet -- despite the fact 2004 XP14 will make 10 more close approaches to Earth over this century, none are expected to pose a threat to the planet.

FMI: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/