On September 3, a newly discovered asteroid named 2025 QD8 will zoom past Earth at a distance of about 135,465 miles. That’s just about 57% of the distance to the moon. This makes for an exciting event for space enthusiasts!
This asteroid, which is roughly the length of a commercial jet—between 55 and 124 feet—will travel at an impressive speed of over 28,000 miles per hour. Thankfully, it poses no danger to our planet.
If you want to catch this flyby live, the Virtual Telescope Project is hosting a free YouTube stream on September 3 at 7 p.m. ET. You can watch as their robotic telescopes in Italy capture real-time footage of the asteroid.
On August 30, the Virtual Telescope Project shared a promising image of 2025 QD8 from about 2.4 million miles away, using a telescope affectionately called “Elena.” The asteroid appears as a small dot, lost among the stars.
NASA keeps a close eye on near-Earth objects, having identified thousands that come close to our orbit. While some of these asteroids could eventually be hazardous, NASA states it’s unlikely that a significant asteroid will strike Earth in the next century.
In 2020, a survey indicated that despite the many asteroids out there, the chances of a devastating impact are quite slim. This awareness helps scientists prepare for potential threats.
Asteroids like 2025 QD8 remind us of the vast universe around us. They spark curiosity and highlight the importance of monitoring space for our safety.
