Astronomers say asteroid will miss the Earth

Astronomers have determined that a newly discovered, 1.9km-wide asteroid will miss the Earth in 2019.

Last week, preliminary calculations of the orbital path travelled by asteroid 2002 NT7 suggested the space rock had about a 1-in-250,000 chance of ploughing into the Earth on February 1, 2019, causing devastation on a continental scale.

Follow-up observations during the weekend showed the asteroid and the Earth won't meet, according to Nasa.

Astronomers initially calculated at least seven potential impact dates beginning in 2019. Only one, on February 1, 2060, has yet to be ruled out.