Massive asteroid the size of a 25-storey building to zoom past Earth today — NASA confirms

NASA Asteroids Alert (Image: Canva)

Certain nights seem peaceful, but the universe has other ideas. As constellations twinkle overhead, a giant space boulder is on its way to make a close pass by Earth—quickly, harmlessly, but distinctly close.

Giant Asteroid Passing Close to Earth on 28 May
A large asteroid called 2025 JR will pass by Earth on Wednesday, 28 May, at around 8:40 am IST. With a size of around 76 metres (250 feet) in diameter—equivalent to a 25-storey building—it will travel at a distance of about 4.6 million kilometres (2.87 million miles) from Earth. Though this distance is not a threat, it is relatively close by astronomical standards.

Characteristics and Classification
Asteroid 2025 JR is an Apollo class, defined by the Earth-crossing orbits. With a speed of around 40,800 kilometres per hour (25,356 miles per hour), it is representative of the kinetic nature of near-Earth objects. In spite of its diameter, 2025 JR is not considered to be a "potentially hazardous asteroid", reserved for bodies larger than 140 metres (460 feet) in diameter that come closer than 7.5 million kilometres (4.6 million miles) to Earth.

Significance of Surveillance
NASA's Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) keeps close tabs on asteroids such as 2025 JR to evaluate hazards. The Yarkovsky effect, whereby uneven heating can change the direction of an asteroid over the long term, is among the reasons why constant surveillance is called for. Even though 2025 JR does not threaten us directly, its close approach is a reminder of the significance of following celestial bodies that move through our cosmic neighbourhood.