Astronomists are predictin a massive asteroid will fly by earth in early November.

Asteroid 2005 YU55, which measures 1,300 feet in diameter, is expected soar within a scant 0.85 lunar distance of Earth on Nov. 8.

Experts say that this is the closest approach an asteroid this massive has made since 1976.

"The close Earth approach of 2005 YU55 on Nov. 8, is unusual since it is close and big. On average, one wouldn't expect an object this big to pass this close but every 30 years," said Don Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

The space rock will be too close to the sun to be observed at first, but scientists say that it could be visible by later in the day.

The asteroid will pass within the orbit of the moon -- around 200,000miles from earth.

"Nobody saw 2010 XC15 during its close flyby within 0.5 lunar distance in 1976," said Lance Benner, a research scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif, told Fox News.

"Thus, the flyby by 2005 YU55 will be the closest actually observed by something this large, so it represents a unique opportunity," Benner said. "In a real sense, this will provide imaging resolution comparable to or even better than a spacecraft mission flyby."