Near-Earth object atmosphere, passing Earth's surface only away (about one Earth radius or one-sixtieth of the distance to the Moon). Because it was very small (6 meters/20 feet), FU was detected only hours before its closest approach. If it had collided with Earth, it probably would have disintegrated harmlessly in the atmosphere. On February 4, 2011, an asteroid designated , estimated at in diameter, passed within of the Earth, setting a new record for closest approach without impact, which still stands . On November 8, 2011, asteroid , relatively large at about in diameter, passed within (0.85 lunar distances) of Earth. On
From the Earth to the Moon First Men in the Moon") inspired the first science fiction film, "A Trip to the Moon", made in 1902 by Georges Méliès. In 1958, another film adaptation of this story was released, titled "From the Earth to the Moon". It was one of the last films made under the RKO Pictures banner. The story also became the basis for the very loose adaptation "Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon" (1967), a caper-style British comedy starring Burl Ives and Terry-Thomas. The 1961 Czechoslovak film "The Fabulous Baron Munchausen" combines characters and plot elements from the Verne novel with those of the