Huge asteroid narrowly misses Earth in its nearest close shave for 100 years

It is not unusual for small meteorites to pass close by, however one of this size is a very rare occurrence and poses a very real threat, an expert told the Express.

Any impact would trigger devastating changes in the climate, earthquakes and tsunamis.

Bill Napier, professor of astronomy at the University of Buckinghamshire, told the Express there is a "very real risk" of a comet or damaging asteroid hitting Earth.

He said: "With something like YB35, we are looking at a scale of global destruction, something that would pose a risk to the continuation of the planet.

"These events are however very rare, it is the smaller yet still very damaging impacts which are a very real threat."

Experts warn it is only a matter of time before an asteroid capable of "life-altering" damage collides with our planet.

2014-YB35 was first spotted by the Catalina Sky Survey at the end of last year with astronomers expected to be closely watching its progress this week.

If it had hit Earth, plumes of debris would have been thrown into the atmosphere, changing the climate and potentially making the planet inhabitable for all life.

Smaller impacts would be capable of destroying cities.