A 110-foot, airplane-sized asteroid is on track to pass Earth on July 30, NASA confirms

Asteroid Alert! (Image: Canva)

Something big is headed our way—but there’s no need to panic. As Earth spins calmly beneath the stars, an asteroid the size of an aircraft is moving in for a close pass. Scientists say it’s harmless, but they’re watching every move.

Asteroid to Pass at a Safe Distance

NASA has confirmed the asteroid 2025 OL1 is on track. It’s expected to make its closest approach on 30 July. The rock is roughly 110 feet in diameter. That’s about the length of a small passenger plane.

When it reaches its nearest point, it will pass Earth at 1.29 million kilometres. It’s travelling at a speed of 16,904 miles per hour. That may sound distant, but in space, it’s relatively close.

NASA has said the asteroid poses no danger. To be considered hazardous, an object must come within 7.4 million kilometres and be at least 85 metres wide. This one doesn’t meet either mark. Still, experts are keeping an eye on it. Even small shifts in its path could change the outcome.

India’s ISRO Looks Further Ahead

This isn’t the first space rock, and won’t be the last. Agencies across the globe remain alert, scanning the skies day and night. India’s ISRO is no exception.

Chairman S. Somanath has stressed the need for asteroid defence. He’s focused on Apophis, an asteroid expected to pass Earth in 2029. ISRO hopes to team up with NASA, ESA, and JAXA.

Somanath says asteroid impacts are rare but serious. ISRO is planning future missions to study these space rocks. They could one day test ways to deflect a dangerous object.

A Quiet Flyby, but the Watch Continues

Although 2025 OL1 will pass safely, the event is a quiet reminder. Our skies are full of unseen travellers. Most pass without notice, but some deserve our attention. That’s why space watchers stay on duty—eyes up, always alert.