NASA Asteroid Alert : Three Asteroids to Pass Earth Today

NASA has issued an alert for three near-Earth asteroids set to pass by Earth on January 30, 2025. While these asteroids, ranging in size from bus-sized to airplane-sized, do not pose a direct threat, their close proximity underscores the importance of monitoring space rocks. The closest, Asteroid 2025 BV5, will come within 264,000 miles, closer than the Moon. NASA’s Planetary Defense Office continuously tracks such objects to assess any risks, and the agency’s ongoing efforts include missions like the successful DART mission to alter asteroid trajectories.

NASA has issued an alert regarding the approach of three near-Earth objects (NEOs) on January 30, 2025. These include one bus-sized asteroid and two airplane-sized ones. While none of these asteroids pose an immediate threat, their close proximity underscores the need for ongoing monitoring of space rocks that frequently pass by Earth.

Details of the Asteroids

1. Asteroid 2025 BV5 (Bus-Sized)
– Size: ~26 feet
– Closest Approach: 264,000 miles (about 1.1 times the distance to the Moon)

2. Asteroid 2025 BU3 (Airplane-Sized)
– Size: ~110 feet
– Closest Approach: 813,000 miles (roughly 3 times the distance to the Moon)

3. Asteroid 2025 BJ2 (Airplane-Sized)
– Size: ~130 feet
– Closest Approach: 3.6 million miles (over 15 times the distance to the Moon)

Proximity and Risk

Among the three, **Asteroid 2025 BV5** will pass closest to Earth at 264,000 miles, which is closer than the Moon. The other two will pass at considerably safer distances—813,000 miles and 3.6 million miles, respectively. NASA confirms that none of these objects are classified as hazardous, as their orbits do not pose a direct threat. However, asteroids of similar size could cause significant regional impacts if they were to enter Earth’s atmosphere.

NASA’s Monitoring Efforts:

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) actively tracks NEOs that come within 4.6 million miles of Earth, utilizing data from telescopes like NEOWISE and Pan-STARRS. This continuous monitoring helps assess any potential risks. Although these flybys pose no immediate danger, they highlight the importance of planetary defense, with missions like DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) being key to altering asteroid trajectories, as demonstrated in 2022.

Disclaimer:

These asteroids are not considered a threat based on their current trajectories, and their flybys are closely monitored by NASA. Information regarding asteroid sizes and distances is based on current data and may be updated as more information becomes available.

source : live science