‘Ghost rock’ asteroid to pass closer to Earth than the Moon tonight

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A car-sized asteroid nicknamed a “ghost rock” is expected to pass closer to Earth than the Moon late tonight, according to meteorologist Ric Kearbey.The asteroid is called 2025 UK9. It is roughly the size of a car and is predicted to pass about 231,000 miles from Earth.Astronomers saw the asteroid last October, and it quickly faded from view. Its predicted path brings it back through the darkness in time for another Halloween.See the dust and ice particles from Halley’s Comet tonightThe asteroid did not disappear. It became too faint for astronomers to keep tracking.The brief sighting leaves some uncertainty about exactly when and how close the asteroid passes. Tonight’s predicted encounter is a safe flyby.The asteroid is too faint to be seen with the naked eye.“I know a car-sized space rock coming this close to Earth sounds a little scary, but tonight’s flyby is nothing to worry about,” Kearbey said.