Astronomers around the world have been training telescopes on an asteroid and returning images and data as it flies past Earth. At 4.20pm GMT (11.20am EST) asteroid 2004 BL86 made its closest approach to Earth at a distance 3.1 times greater than that of the moon - far too distant to be of any threat. Observers on Earth were able to view the asteroid with binoculars or a telescope  -and Nasa's high powered telescopes revealed it had its own moon. Scroll down for video The 20 individual images used in the movie were generated from data collected at Goldstone on Jan. 26, 2015. They show the primary body is approximately 1,100 feet (325 meters) across and has a small moon approximately 230 feet (70 meters) across.
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2004 BL86 made its closest approach to Earth at 4.20pm GMT (11.20am EST) today
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It will remain visible with binoculars or a telescope until tomorrow
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The asteroid passed about 3.1 times the distance of Earth to the moon
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New images suggest the asteroid is 980ft (300 metres) in size
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Astronomers will be hoping to study it as it passes Earth
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But novice stargazers can also view it near Jupiter with binoculars
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Observers in the Americas, Europe, and Africa have the best seats
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It will appear to move backwards in the night sky relative to other stars
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This will be the closest approach of an asteroid this size until 2027
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Nasa says it poses no threat to Earth 'for the foreseeable future'
Despite the asteroid's two close visits then and now, it won't approach @placeholder again this closely for another 200 years.