NASA Monitors Car-Sized Asteroid Speeding Past Earth at 15,000 MPH
NASA is closely tracking an asteroid roughly the size of a compact car as it hurtles past Earth today at an astonishing speed of 15,000 miles per hour. The asteroid, designated “2025 DQ,” measures approximately 12 feet across and will pass at a distance of about 186,000 miles—closer than the moon, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Asteroids in Earth’s Vicinity
2025 DQ isn’t the only space rock making a close pass today. Another asteroid, “2012 DZ,” with an estimated diameter ranging between 52 and 118 feet, is also making its way past our planet. However, this asteroid will remain at a safer distance of approximately 662,000 miles from Earth, according to the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).
Just last week, another significant asteroid event occurred. On February 13, an asteroid named “2025 CN,” about the size of a bus at 28 feet across, skimmed past Earth at an even faster speed of 18,700 miles per hour.
Understanding Near-Earth Objects
Asteroids are remnants from the formation of the solar system, dating back 4.6 billion years. Most of these rocky bodies are found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but some have orbits that bring them close to Earth. Near-Earth objects (NEOs) can vary in size from small 10-foot rocks to massive bodies nearly 25 miles across. While the majority of these space rocks pose no immediate threat, NASA keeps a watchful eye on a category known as “potentially hazardous asteroids” (PHAs). These asteroids are typically over 460 feet in size and come within 4.6 million miles of Earth’s orbit.
Addressing Impact Concerns
Earlier this week, CNEOS updated impact probability data for an asteroid called “2024 YR4.” Initially, scientists recorded a 3.1 percent chance of collision with Earth in 2032—one of the highest probabilities ever noted for an asteroid of this size. However, subsequent calculations lowered that likelihood to just 0.28 percent.
Despite the presence of numerous PHAs in our solar system, experts assure the public that none pose an imminent danger. “The ‘potentially hazardous’ designation simply means that over many centuries or millennia, an asteroid’s orbit may shift closer to Earth. We do not assess these long-term possibilities of impact,” explained Paul Chodas, manager of CNEOS.
NASA continues to monitor space objects closely, refining tracking techniques and updating predictions to ensure planetary safety. With advancements in technology, scientists are better equipped than ever to predict and mitigate potential asteroid threats.
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