Asteroid to pass within 12,000km of Earth

Absolutely no possibility Asteroid

The 2011 MD asteroid, which is about the size of two buses, will pass over Australia about 11:00pm.

          Astronomers say, an asteroid pass within 12,000 kilometers of Earth tonight is a timely our environment than meets the eye,

          Experts say there is no chance of impact and Fred Watson from the Australian Astronomical Observatory says there won't be much of a spectacle.

          "We won't see anything in Australia. If they've got quite big telescopes in South Africa they might see something."

He says it will look similar to a shooting star, but will move much more gracefully across the sky.

          Even if it did, he says 2011 MD would pose no threat to life on Earth.

          "Absolutely no possibility," he said.

"Its orbit is very well defined. Its nearest approach will be 12,000 kilometres. It's nowhere near the vicinity of the Earth."

          It will, however, come close to several communications satellites.

          "There is no danger of a collision though," he said.

Mr Watson says the closeness of 2011 MD is a reminder to people that events on Earth have the potential to be shaped by asteroids -"like the annihilation of the dinosaurs".