A space rock, asteroid 2005 YU55, will zoom by Earth inside the orbit of the moon on Nov. 8. As its closest approach, the asteroid will pass within 201,700 miles or 325 kilometers of Earth at 6:28 p.m. EDT (2228 GMT).

This early, scientists are preparing an extensive campaign of radar, visual and infrared observations as asteroid 2005 YU55, which roughly 1,300 feet (400 meters) wide, is set to become the object du jour for ground observers.

The powerful Goldstone Observatory radio dishes in Mojave, Calif., that are part of NASA's Deep Space Network will be deployed as part of radar scanning, including the huge Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

In addition, there are near-infrared observations campaigns planned, such as use of the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility located at the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

"A close pass by a near-Earth object (NEO) the size of asteroid 2005 YU55 is a fairly rare event, something that occurs perhaps once every 25 years or so," said Lindley Johnson, NASA's NEO Observations program executive in the agency's Planetary Science division in Washington.

"We expect to get not only detailed radar imagery on its size, shape and spin dynamics, but also high-resolution spectroscopic data to better determine its composition."

"This close examination will then allow us to make better estimates of the nature of other NEOs that look similar to YU55 from a remote distance - potentially some that could make good destinations for human spaceflight in the future," Johnson said.

NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office manager Don Yeomans said that scientists are anticipating a great occasion.

According to NASA, the asteroid's near-Earth flyby is the first since 1976 that astronomers have known about in advance for such a large object and the next known flyby with a big space rock will occur in 2028.