Jet-Sized Asteroid Passes Earth Safely at Close Distance

NASA and international astronomers are closely tracking asteroid 2025 QD8, an object roughly the size of a commercial jetliner, estimated between 17 and 38 meters in diameter, which is set to pass Earth on September 3, 2025, at a distance of approximately 218,000 kilometers—about 57% of the Earth-Moon distance. Traveling at speeds exceeding 28,000 miles per hour (45,000 km/h), this asteroid poses no threat of collision, but its close approach offers a rare chance for scientific observation and public engagement in planetary defense. The Virtual Telescope Project will livestream the event, providing a view of 2025 QD8 as it rapidly crosses near-Earth space. Despite its size and speed, experts confirm the asteroid is not categorized as potentially hazardous, and future approaches will be at greater distances. Historical data suggests 2025 QD8 has made several close passes by Earth but never closer than the upcoming flyby, which is projected to be the nearest for at least the next century. The asteroid's passage underscores the ongoing global efforts to detect and monitor near-Earth objects to protect our planet and expand understanding of these celestial neighbors.