Asteroids Buzz Earth, No Immediate Threat, But Monitoring Remains Crucial

NASA Tracks Asteroids Buzzing Past Earth

NASA is keeping a close eye on two asteroids that are making close approaches to Earth today. The first, named "2025 DQ", is estimated to be between 3.6 and 6 meters wide and will fly by at a distance of about 186,000 miles. This translates to roughly 0.78 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. The second asteroid, named "2012 DZ", is larger, with an estimated diameter of up to 36 meters. It will pass by Earth at a distance of about 662,000 miles, or 2.78 times the Earth-Moon distance.

These close encounters are reminders of the numerous asteroids that reside in our solar system. These rocky remnants from the solar system's formation are primarily found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Some of these asteroids have orbits that bring them close to Earth, and these are classified as near-Earth objects (NEOs).

While most NEOs pose no immediate threat to our planet, a small group known as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) warrant closer monitoring. These are asteroids larger than 140 meters that have orbits that bring them within 4.6 million miles of Earth's orbit. However, despite the presence of PHAs, none are currently expected to collide with Earth in the foreseeable future.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and its Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) are dedicated to tracking and studying these celestial objects. They use sophisticated telescopes and radar systems to monitor the orbits and characteristics of NEOs, ensuring that we are well-prepared for any potential future threats.