NASA tracks 280-foot asteroid, equal in height to a 20-storey building, set to zoom past Earth at high speed

Asteroid Alert! (Image: Canva)

An asteroid the size of a building is quietly approaching Earth, but there's no reason to worry. Sky watchers and scientists are keeping a careful watch as the space rock glides safely by.

No Danger, Say NASA Experts

Asteroid 2025 MA90, which belongs to the Aten group, will make its closest approach on 15 July. It is about 280 feet wide and travelling at 20,263 miles per hour. NASA says it will pass Earth at around 4,020,000 kilometres. That’s far enough to avoid any danger but close enough to study.

The asteroid doesn’t meet the criteria for a hazardous object. NASA explains that to be flagged, an object must come within 7.4 million kilometres and be at least 85 meters wide. While MA90 is sizable, it isn’t near enough to pose a risk. Still, its path is being tracked for any shift in orbit.

ISRO Looks Ahead with Global Partners

While this flyby poses no threat, the larger concern lies ahead. India’s space agency, ISRO, is already focused on a more significant event—asteroid Apophis in 2029. Chairman S. Somanath has highlighted the growing importance of planetary defence.

Somanath has voiced concerns about potential asteroid impacts. He supports collaborative missions with NASA, ESA, and JAXA. ISRO also plans to land on asteroids in future missions. These missions would allow scientists to understand threats and test how to deflect them.

The journey of 2025 MA90 is peaceful, but the vigilance continues. Space may seem distant, but its surprises can come much closer than expected.