Recently Discovered Asteroid to Pass Closer to Earth Than the Moon Today
A newly identified asteroid is set to pass dangerously close to Earth today, October 15, 2023. Dubbed 2025 TP5, this space rock will approach our planet at approximately 4:09 p.m. EDT (2009 UTC), coming within 60,328 miles (97,089 km). This distance represents about a quarter of the average gap between Earth and the Moon, which is typically 238,855 miles (384,400 km).
About Asteroid 2025 TP5
Asteroid 2025 TP5 is estimated to have a diameter of around 54 feet (16 meters). This size is comparable to the Chelyabinsk meteor, which broke apart over Russia in 2013. Notably, 2025 TP5 will also make a subsequent close pass to the Moon, reaching a minimum distance of 74,616 miles (120,084 km) on October 16, 2023.
Discovery of 2025 TP5
Despite coming relatively close to Earth in September 1979, 2025 TP5 was not discovered until October 13, 2023. Astronomers at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii utilized the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) to detect the asteroid around 4:07 a.m. EDT (0807 UTC). The discovery was promptly shared with the Minor Planet Center, an organization that disseminates information about new celestial discoveries.
Significance of the ATLAS Program
- ATLAS comprises four telescopes designed for early asteroid detection.
- This initiative is funded by NASA and managed by the University of Hawaii.
- Although designed to identify potentially hazardous asteroids, 2025 TP5 poses no threat to Earth.
Ongoing Monitoring and Future Prospects
Astronomers have diligently cataloged threatening asteroids and have not found any immediate risks to our planet. Advances in technology have made it routine to detect small asteroids passing close to Earth. For context, another small asteroid passed above Earth earlier this month, skimming the altitude of the International Space Station.
The continuous monitoring efforts by astronomers around the globe ensure that any potential threats are identified early, keeping our planet safe from cosmic hazards.
