Huge 1.5 Mile-Wide Asteroid To Fly Past Earth On Christmas Eve

A huge 1.5 mile asteroid will hurtle past Earth on Christmas Eve - flying past 28 times further out than the moon.

Rumours have circulated that the fly-past of asteroid 2003 SD220 will cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions - but it’s not true.

The asteroid will fly past 6.7 million miles away - and experts say that even if it were closer, there is no risk of earthquakes.

The asteroid is moving at a speed of 17.5 miles per second - and will be visible using telescopes on Christmas Eve.

Eddie Irizarry of EarthSky writes regarding the rumours of earthquakes: 'Those assertions are misleading and incorrect.

'Even if 2003 SD220 were passing closer, it's doubtful earthquakes would result.

'In fact, there's no scientific evidence that an asteroid's flyby can cause any seismic activity, unless it collides with Earth, but - in this case - that clearly will not be the case.'