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On Wednesday (October 1), an asteroid named 2025 TF narrowly missed Earth, passing just 300 miles above Antarctica. This close encounter, which occurred at an altitude closer than the International Space Station, went unnoticed until after it happened. The asteroid, measuring approximately 9.8 feet in diameter, was detected by the Catalina Sky Survey hours after its closest approach.
The European Space Agency noted that objects of this size pose no significant danger to Earth. However, the incident highlights the challenges in identifying small asteroids before they approach the planet. The asteroid's flyby was not a record; in 2020, asteroid 2020 VT4 passed even closer at 230 miles above Earth.
According to NASA data, the asteroid's trajectory was calculated to have passed over Antarctica at 8:49 p.m. EDT on September 30. Despite its small size, the asteroid's close proximity emphasizes the need for improved detection technology. NASA and its partners continue to enhance their efforts to monitor space for potentially hazardous objects.
2025 TF is an Apollo-type asteroid, orbiting the sun every 751 days.