NASA is using an asteroid's close flyby to test Earth's warning network for incoming space rocks. Program scientist Michael Kelley said that's "pretty close" as these things go. "That's what I've been using as kind of an analogy to what we're doing here." Observatories worldwide — part of the International Asteroid Warning Network — have been zooming in on the asteroid called 2012 TC4 for weeks to test communication and coordination. Another test — using another actual asteroid headed harmlessly our way — is planned in the next few years.

Source: ABC News October 11, 2017 17:12 UTC