An asteroid will fly close to Earth on Wednesday but pose no threat to the planet as the distance between them will be several dozen times that between the Earth and the Moon.

But some astronomers claim the asteroid could collide with the Earth when it returns in 2036.

The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute on Monday said the asteroid, called Apophis, will come as close as 14.5 million km to Earth at 8:43 p.m. on Wednesday.

Asteroids measure 220-330 m in diameter and revolve around the sun. First observed by U.S. scientists in 2004, they are different from comets in that they do not have a tail. Only those on the Southern Hemisphere will be able to observe Apophis this time, and people here in February with the aid of an astronomical telescope.