NASA tracks two airplane-sized asteroids set for close encounter with Earth today

Asteroid coming towards Earth (Representative Image - Canva)

Not all space encounters are scenes from a sci-fi film. Astronomers are closely monitoring asteroids 2025 KH2 and 2025 KR1, which are set to pass Earth on 30 May 2025. Both are approaching, but NASA assures it’s no cause for concern.

Asteroid 2025 KH2: Jetliner-sized

The bigger rock, Asteroid 2025 KH2, is approximately 110 feet in diameter — about the size of a commercial airliner. It’s going to fly past Earth at 1:18 p.m. IST on Thursday. NASA projects it will pass about 3,470,000 miles away — roughly 28 times the distance to the Moon. It’s whizzing through space at 27,742 mph. Even at that pace, experts assure there is no risk to Earth. The object will continue on its path after this brief flyby.

Asteroid 2025 KR1: Smaller, but Speedier

Asteroid 2025 KR1 is slightly smaller, about 130 feet wide. It will pass near Earth on the same day. This asteroid is even quicker, moving at 39,393 miles per hour. But it will remain safely 3,560,000 miles away from Earth — far enough not to pose a danger. Like KH2, scientists say it won’t get close enough to worry.

Why Scientists Watch the Sky

These ancient space rocks aren’t passing unnoticed. They offer a glimpse into the early history of our solar system. Objects like 2025 KH2 may hold clues to Earth’s origins. That’s why scientists monitor these flybys carefully. Tracking asteroid paths helps us prepare for future threats.

NASA’s advanced radar and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory follow their trajectories closely. Missions like OSIRIS-REx collect samples for detailed analysis. Asteroids also remind us of past impacts, such as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. Observing them helps us understand the risks and opportunities that space presents.

As the world keeps turning, the skies continue telling new tales. On 30 May, two silent visitors will pass by. They bring no danger — only a reminder of what lies beyond.