While this is considered a “close approach” by interstellar standards — NASA defines near-Earth objects (NEOs) as those that come within 4.6 million miles — we’re not about to get some cosmic coal shoved down our stockings so to speak.

As people prepare for Christmas Eve celebrations, the skies are preparing for their own dramatic spectacle. Tonight, a massive asteroid will make a close approach to Earth, providing both a moment of wonder and an opportunity for scientists to learn more about these celestial visitors.

The massive rock is believed to be ten storeys high and will skim past the planet at 14,743 miles per hour in the early hours of Christmas Eve, according to NASA