NASA's Asteroid Alert! A 93-foot, airplane-sized asteroid to zoom past Earth today

Asteroid Alert! (Image: Canva)

If you look up tonight, remember space always has surprises. A visitor from the cosmos is quietly heading our way. But don’t panic—it’s just passing by without causing harm.

Asteroid 2025 MK90 to Pass Earth on 2 July

NASA has confirmed that asteroid 2025 MK90 is approaching Earth. The space rock is about 93 feet wide, roughly aeroplane-sized. It is set to make its closest approach on 2 July.

The asteroid will pass at a distance of 3.29 million kilometres. It is travelling at a speed of 21,009 miles per hour. While this may sound far, space experts consider it relatively close.

This asteroid belongs to the Aten group, a family of near-Earth objects. These asteroids often follow paths that cross Earth’s orbit. Despite the close flyby, NASA says there is no danger.

An asteroid is only marked hazardous if it comes within 7.4 million kilometres and is larger than 150 metres. MK90 does not meet either condition but remains under close watch. Scientists track even tiny shifts in orbits, as minor changes can alter future paths.

Why Scientists Keep Watching the Skies

While 2025 MK90 poses no threat, astronomers stay alert. Tracking such objects helps prepare for bigger risks in the future. Space agencies regularly monitor the skies for any unusual movements.

A small change in orbit could mean a bigger risk later. That is why even harmless space rocks never go unnoticed. It serves as a reminder that Earth shares space with many wandering objects.

ISRO Eyes Future Planetary Defence Missions

India’s space agency, ISRO, is also paying close attention. Chairman S. Somanath has stressed the importance of planetary defence. He aims to collaborate with NASA, ESA, and JAXA on future missions.

ISRO is already preparing for a major event in 2029. That’s when the giant asteroid Apophis is set to fly close to Earth. Somanath believes that asteroid impacts could cause major disasters.

To tackle this, ISRO plans missions to land on asteroids. These missions will help study potential threats and test defence strategies. The goal is to better understand how to protect Earth in future.

For now, asteroid 2025 MK90 will glide past without trouble. But it’s a gentle reminder that space is never too far away.