1997 NC1 asteroid makes closest Earth pass since the 1600s

The 1997 NC1 asteroid sweeps past Earth on June 27, 2026, at about 2.5 to 2.6 million kilometres away—its closest approach since before the 1600s, according to NASA. The flyby poses no impact risk, but Canadians with a small telescope can watch the potentially hazardous space rock drift through Ophiuchus after dark.

Key Takeaways

• 1997 NC1 passes Earth on June 27 at roughly 6.5 to 7 times the distance to the Moon, with no collision risk.
• NASA data show this is the asteroid's nearest approach since before the year 1600; the next similar pass is not expected until 2133.
• Observers in Canada can spot it as a faint moving point of light in Ophiuchus with a small telescope on a dark night.
• The Virtual Telescope Project is streaming the flyby live on June 26 and 27 from Italy.
• Close passes help scientists refine long-term orbital forecasts that underpin planetary defense planning.

What is the 1997 NC1 asteroid and why does this flyby matter?

Designated (152637) 1997 NC1, the object was discovered in July 1997 by the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking system at Haleakala, Hawaii, according to reporting from AP News. Experts estimate it spans roughly 750 metres to 1.65 kilometres across—potentially as wide as three CN Towers stacked side by side, Global News reports.

NASA classifies it as a potentially hazardous asteroid because of its size and orbit, not because this weekend's pass is dangerous. The Canadian Space Agency confirmed the June 27 encounter "poses no risk." For readers who track long-horizon science stories in our Longevity & Biohacking section, events like this are a reminder of how century-scale monitoring protects future generations.

How close will 1997 NC1 get to Earth on June 27?

The asteroid's closest approach occurs Saturday morning, when it passes within about 1.6 million miles (2.6 million kilometres), the European Space Agency told AP. That is roughly 6.5 to 7 lunar distances—far enough that Heidi White, an astrophysicist at the University of Montreal, likened it to an object passing 20 metres from an orange if Earth were shrunk to fruit size.

NASA orbital data cited by Global News indicate this is the nearest computed pass since before 1600. The space rock will not make another approach this close until 2133. It will zip by at about 19,900 mph (32,000 km/h), according to NASA figures reported by Space.com.

Can you see the 1997 NC1 asteroid from Canada?

Yes—under the right conditions. White told Global News that Canadians can look for Ophiuchus on the night of June 27 once the sky is fully dark. Through a small telescope, 1997 NC1 should appear as a very faint point of light slowly shifting against background stars.

AP notes that binoculars and modest telescopes may also work for motivated skygazers. Space.com reports peak brightness around magnitude +10 on the evening of June 27, ideal for small instruments. Light pollution and moonlight can interfere, so darker rural sites offer the best odds.

How can you watch the flyby online tonight?

The Virtual Telescope Project plans two YouTube livestreams starting at 7 p.m. EDT (11 p.m. UTC) on June 26 and 27, Space.com reports. Gianluca Masi's team will broadcast live views from robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy, weather permitting.

Masi told Space.com that an asteroid this large comes this close only about once every decade, making the streams a rare public window into near-Earth object science. The timing also lands just before World Asteroid Day on June 30, a United Nations-backed event marking the 1908 Tunguska impact anniversary.

What do scientists learn from a harmless close pass?

White described flybys like this as "valuable scientific opportunities." Astronomers use them to measure an asteroid's size, shape, and composition while tightening orbital predictions. NASA, ESA, and other agencies track such objects so future threats can be spotted early.

AP notes the last similarly large asteroid to pass even closer was 1994 PC1 in 2022. Each well-measured encounter adds data that keeps long-range impact forecasts accurate—quiet infrastructure for the kind of multi-century thinking that longevity-minded readers often champion.