On September 3, an asteroid the size of a commercial airplane will glide by Earth. Named 2025 QD8, this space rock won’t pose any threat. Instead, it offers a unique chance for both scientists and space enthusiasts to observe it up close.
The Virtual Telescope Project 2.0 will livestream this event starting at 7:00 p.m. ET on September 2. This program, run by the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Italy, uses remote telescopes to bring real-time space observations to viewers.
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), 2025 QD8 will pass within about 136,000 miles (or 218,000 kilometers) of us at 10:57 a.m. ET on September 3. For perspective, that’s roughly 57% of the average distance to the Moon. The asteroid measures around 71 feet (22 meters) wide and will speed by at 28,000 miles per hour (45,000 kilometers per hour).
Just recently, project director Gianluca Masi used the 17-inch “Elana” telescope to capture an image of 2025 QD8 from 1.2 million miles away. Even at that distance, it appeared as a tiny dot among the stars.
This isn’t a one-time encounter. The European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Objects Coordination Center notes that 2025 QD8 will have several more close passes over the next century. However, the one on September 3 will be the closest. After this event, the asteroid won’t visit us again until 2038.
Why is studying asteroids like 2025 QD8 important? This asteroid is among the roughly 40,000 near-Earth asteroids that NASA has identified since 1980. These asteroids orbit within 120 million miles (195 million kilometers) of the Sun, frequently passing near our planet. This monitoring is key for planetary defense, helping astronomers identify and prepare for potential threats.
The Center for Near Earth Object Studies focuses on cataloging these objects, predicting their orbits, and assessing potential risks. While most near-Earth objects pose no danger, around a couple thousand are classified as potentially hazardous. Importantly, there’s currently no asteroid known to be on a collision course with Earth for at least the next hundred years.
2025 QD8 is too small to be classified as hazardous, but watching asteroids like this one helps scientists improve detection skills and understand the early Solar System. This knowledge sheds light on the formation of the Sun, planets, and other celestial bodies.
Public interest in near-Earth objects is growing, with social media buzzing about upcoming observations and findings. Platforms like Twitter and Instagram see users sharing images and reactions as events unfold. This highlights a community engaged in space exploration, eager for new discoveries and insights into our cosmic neighborhood.
For more in-depth information about near-Earth objects, you can check NASA’s [Center for Near Earth Object Studies](https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/stats/totals.html) and stay updated on the latest research.
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asteroids,Astronomy,near-earth objects,Telescopes
