Swarm of Asteroids to Safely Zip Past Earth in January 2025

Asteroid the Size of a School Bus Whizzes by Earth at Record-Low Distance

In an extraordinary cosmic event, an asteroid roughly the size of a school bus made a close flyby of Earth on January 3, 2025. The near-Earth object, dubbed 2025 AB, passed by at a distance of approximately 95,200 miles (153,200 kilometers)—more than twice as close as the average distance between Earth and the Moon.

Zephyring through space at a staggering speed of 11.33 km per second—faster than a bullet fired from a gun—2025 AB’s swift journey was swiftly tracked by NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Despite its breathtaking velocity, the asteroid’s trajectory posed no threat to our planet.

At an estimated diameter ranging from 32.8 to 72.2 meters, or roughly the length of a standard school bus, 2025 AB is relatively small compared to other asteroids. However, its unprecedented proximity to Earth attracted the attention of scientists worldwide. Classified as a Near-Earth Object (NEO), 2025 AB joins a select group of celestial wanderers that orbit within approximately 30 million miles (48 million kilometers) of Earth.

NEOs, such as 2025 AB, are monitored globally by space agencies due to their potential impact on Earth should their orbital paths suddenly shift. Not all NEOs pose a genuine threat, though. To indicate those that could pose a serious risk, astronomers use the terms Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) or Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHOs).

An asteroid qualifies as a PHA if it measures at least 140.2 meters in diameter and approaches Earth within 4.6 million miles (7.4 million kilometers). Due to its smaller size, 2025 AB does not fall into this category.

In the coming days, four additional asteroids are expected to make close approaches to Earth. Among them are 2024 YC9, roughly the size of a house, and 2024 YL1, closely matching the size of a school bus. Two others, 2025 AE and 2024 YL7, are estimated to be larger, akin to the size of an airplane, but none will pass as near as 2025 AB.

While all are classified as NEOs, current data suggests none pose an imminent threat to Earth. The discovery and tracking of asteroids like 2025 AB underscore the importance of continuous space surveillance to detect and mitigate potential cosmic hazards.

NASA, along with international space agencies, continues to refine its technologies to detect and, when necessary, deflect potentially hazardous asteroids. In 2022, the successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission demonstrated the capability to alter an asteroid’s trajectory, marking a significant step in protecting Earth from asteroid-related threats.

Global cooperation in space monitoring is crucial for ensuring humanity’s safety in the face of potential celestial impacts. By working together, we fortify our defenses against the cosmic forces that have shaped our planet’s history.