The 33-foot-long rock is expected to pass over the southern Atlantic Ocean.
As the Associated Press reported last week, a small asteroid is expected to travel past the Earth Monday morning, at approximately 9:30 EST.
The 33-foot-long rock, which has been named 2011 MD, will pass over the southern Atlantic Ocean about 7,500 miles above the earth's surface, according to the Associated Press.
Anyone imagining a 'Deep Impact' type catastrophe can rest easy. Discover Magazine writes that an asteroid this size poses little risk at any range:
Even if it did [hit the earth], it’s too small to impact the surface, and would instead break apart and burn up in the atmosphere. That would be exciting, and make quite a show, but that’s about it.
NASA's Asteroid Watch twitter account has linked to some animated images of the asteroid — here and here.
Unfortunately for photographers, the asteroid won't even provide much of a photo opportunity. Wired writes that the asteroid will only be visible from parts of southern Africa and Antarctica.
Scientists tell the Associated Press that rocks this size sail past the earth every six years, so there's always next time.