Toutatis

 

Asteroid 4179, Toutatis, is approximately 3 miles long, about the width of Manhattan Island, New York.  If it were to impact with Earth it would end civilization.  The original model for this replica was created by Scientists Dr. Scott Hudson and Dr. Steven Ostro using Radar Imaging.  Asteroid 4179 approaches Earth every four years and on December 8, 1992 was a mere 2.2 million miles from the planet.  On September 29, 2004, this asteroid will pass again at less than half that distance.  At that distance, Earth will appear as large in Toutatis' sky as our own moon is seen from Earth.