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

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

Astronomers are closely monitoring asteroids 2025 KH2 and 2025 KR1, which are set to pass Earth on 30 May 2025.

May 30, 2025 / 08:01 IST
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Asteroid coming towards Earth (Representative Image - Canva)
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

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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