An asteroid as big as an aircraft carrier has passed by Earth in the closest encounter by such a massive space rock in more than three decades.

AN ASTEROID bigger than an aircraft carrier will dart between the Earth and moon today — the closest encounter by such a huge rock in 35 years.

RUSSIA’S space agency chief has said a spacecraft may be dispatched to knock a large asteroid off course and reduce the chances of earth impact, even though US scientists say such a scenario is unlikely.

A huge asteroid will have a close encounter with Earth this weekend, but astronomers say there is no danger of an impact.