NASA to chronicle close Earth flyby of asteroid

NASA Television will provide commentary starting at noon Friday during the close, but safe, flyby of a small near-Earth asteroid named 2012 DA14. NASA said it places a high priority on tracking asteroids and protecting our home planet from them. This flyby will provide a unique opportunity for researchers to study a near-Earth object up close.

The half-hour broadcast from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., will incorporate real-time animation to show the location of the asteroid in relation to Earth, along with live or near real-time views of the asteroid from observatories in Australia, weather permitting.

At the time of its closest approach to Earth at approximately 12:25 p.m. MST, the asteroid will be about 17,150 miles above Earth's surface.

The commentary will be available via NASA TV and streamed live online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

and

http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2