An asteroid half the size of a football field will buzz close by Earth on Friday, coming closer than many weather satellites, but there is absolutely no chance the space rock will hit the planet, NASA says.

The asteroid 2012 DA14 will approach within 17,200 miles of Earth when it zips by the planet on Friday (Feb. 15). It will be 5,000 miles closer than the ring of weather, communications and GPS navigation satellites that orbit the Earth.  But according to detailed observations of the 150-foot 2012 DA14 since its discovery last year, NASA officials said in a statement.

'There is no chance that the asteroid might be on a collision course with Earth.'

The asteroid, 2012 DA14, was discovered in 2012 by astronomers.  The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth at 1:24 p.m. CST (1924 GMT) Friday, at which time it may be visible in telescopes and binoculars to observers in Asia, Australia and Europe, where the local time will be nighttime.