At the time of its closest approach to Earth at approximately 2:25 p.m.

ENGADGET: PSA: Asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass the Earth at 2:00pm ET Alt

The one glitch was a software issue that prevented the probe from prioritising its data return to concentrate on the pictures form the period of closest approach.

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It will make its closest approach to the Sun - at a distance of not much more than a million km from the Sun's surface - on 28 November.

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Its closest approach was at 19:25 GMT.

BBC: Asteroid 2012 DA14 in record-breaking Earth pass

At some 2.7 kms in diameter (or some nine Queen Elizabeth 2 ship-lengths in size), 1998 QE2 is due to make its latest closest approach to earth at 1:59 Pacific Daylight Time (4:59 EDT) today.

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Mr. President, you called Chancellor Merkel one of your closest global allies, but you have differed in approach on a couple of key issues -- Libya and the global economic recovery over the years.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama and Chancellor Merkel Press Conference