A 95-foot, airplane-sized asteroid is approaching Earth at high speed on 31 July

NASA's Asteroid Alert! (Image: Canva)

Looking up at the sky today feels different. A large space rock, nearly the size of a building, is quietly preparing to pass by Earth. It won’t cause any harm, but its visit has caught the attention of scientists around the world.

A Fast-Moving Visitor from the Aten Group
NASA has confirmed that asteroid 2025 ME92 is coming close. It is expected to make its nearest approach on 31 July. The asteroid measures about 95 feet across in size. It will pass Earth at a distance of 3.19 million kilometres. Its speed is estimated at 11,831 miles per hour.

Though that sounds far, it is close in space terms. The asteroid belongs to the Aten group of space rocks. These objects often have orbits that cross Earth’s path.

NASA says there is no danger from ME92 this time. To be seen as risky, an asteroid must meet two rules. It must come within 7.4 million kilometres of Earth and be wider than 85 meters. This space rock meets neither of those conditions. Still, experts are tracking it closely. Even small shifts in orbit can change a safe flyby into something riskier.

ISRO Prepares for Future Threats
India’s space agency, ISRO, is also paying attention. Its chairman, S. Somanath, has spoken about long-term defence plans. He has pointed to the threat of Apophis in 2029. That asteroid is much larger and coming closer.

ISRO hopes to work with global partners on this. Talks are on with NASA, ESA and Japan’s JAXA. Somanath is also planning future asteroid landing missions. These will help study the risks and find ways to stay safe.

For now, 2025 ME92 will pass Earth without trouble. But it’s a reminder that space is not as distant as it seems.