A big scary-sounding asteroid is no longer even a remote threat to smash into Earth in about 20 years, NASA says.

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.

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