A rare asteroid the size of Salford is about to fly close to Earth.
The space rock, named (887) Alinda, is so large that stargazers should be able to witness it using ordinary binoculars.
With an estimated diameter of 4.2km, the asteroid’s size has been compared to the width of the Manhattan borough of New York City – or, more locally, the size of Salford, Greater Manchester.
READ MORE: DWP Cold Weather Payments: When you will get them and who is eligible
READ MORE: The 65p household staple that will de-ice slippery driveways in minutes
Its upcoming appearance sees it coming within a relatively cosmically close distance of 12.28 million kilometres to Earth.
The asteroid, however, is not considered hazardous or a threat to Earth. While it is classified as a ‘Near Earth Asteroid’ due to its proximity to our orbit, Alinda is not on a collision course with our planet.
According to space-watching website Virtual Telescope, the asteroid is expected to peak in brightness on Sunday (January 12).
Virtual Telescope commented: “Considering all the asteroids coming closer than 15 million of kilometres, Alinda is one of the five largest ones in size from now until 2200.”
Asteroid (887) Alinda was first discovered by German astronomer Max Wolf at Heidelberg Observatory on January 3, 1918 and is about to make its closest approach to Earth in 100 years, according to IFL Science.
NASA says asteroids are rocky, airless remnants of the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.
Asteroids range in size from less than 33 feet (10 meters) across to about 329 miles (530 kilometers) in diameter.
Manhattan is 3.7km wide at its widest point. Salford is approximately 5km wide.