Asteroid predicted to come incredibly close to Earth on Halloween

An asteroid is expected to pass incredibly close to Earth on Halloween, the closest near-miss since 2006, according to NASA.

The asteroid, called 2015 TB145, was just recently discovered by astronomers using the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) telescope on October 10. NASA believes the object measures around 300 to 470 meters (984 to 1,542 feet) in diameter, which could make it as big as the Empire State Building.

The asteroid, described as being "extremely eccentric" and "cometary in nature," will come closest to Earth within 1.3 lunar distances (310,000 miles) at around 11:14 a.m. ET | 8:14 a.m. PT on October 31, traveling at 35 kilometers per second (78,000 mph).

While the size of the asteroid could be "potentially hazardous," NASA believes it will safely whisk by our planet.

After the flyby, the next time an object of this size will come within as close to Earth will be in 2027 when asteroid 1999 AN10 will approach within a 1.0 lunar distance.

"The flyby presents a truly outstanding scientific opportunity to study the physical properties of this object," wrote NASA.