A massive 420-foot asteroid to zoom past Earth today at high speed, NASA confirms

NASA's Asteroid Alert! (Image: Canva)

The night sky often feels calm and quiet. Yet sometimes, an uninvited visitor appears and draws all attention. This week, a building-sized asteroid is on its way past Earth, and scientists are watching closely.

How close will asteroid 2018 QT1 come?
NASA has confirmed asteroid 2018 QT1 is travelling fast. The rock is about 420 feet wide and moves at 28,302 miles per hour. It will pass Earth on 23 September at a distance of 3,130,000 miles. By human measure, that feels far away. By space standards, it is very close.

Does the asteroid pose any danger?
The asteroid belongs to the Aten group, known for crossing Earth’s orbit. Despite its size, experts say there is no threat. NASA labels asteroids as hazardous if they come within 7.4 million kilometres and measure wider than 85 metres. 2018 QT1 does not meet either condition.

Why do scientists track harmless asteroids?
Even safe flybys are taken seriously by space agencies. A small change in orbit could shift a rock’s path entirely. That is why global teams continue to monitor every move.

ISRO Chairman S. Somanath recently discussed future asteroid missions. He hopes to study larger rocks such as Apophis, expected in 2029. Plans also include working with NASA, ESA, and JAXA, along with possible missions to land on asteroids and study them.

What makes this flyby important?
Though 2018 QT1 poses no threat, it highlights space’s uncertainty. A calm night sky can change in a moment. The asteroid’s approach underlines the need for constant tracking and global research. While this rock will pass without issue, Earth will still be watching.