Large asteroid will come close to Earth next week

Asteroid called 4660 Nereus will come almost 2.5 million miles to Earth – a relatively short distance to the vastness of space. However, that distance is 10 times farther than the Moon.

NASA scientists say anything that comes as close as 1.3 times the distance from Earth to the Sun (about 93 million miles) is considered a Near-Earth Object.

The oval asteroid is just over 1,000 feet wide, about the same height as the Bank of America Tower in downtown Los Angeles.

It was first detected in 1982 and is expected to make its closest approach in 2060, when its orbit will bring it about 745,000 miles from Earth.

This asteroid is rich in minerals and metals, and if it could be mined, it would rake in billions of dollars for nickel, iron and cobalt deposits. Forbes reports.