NASA warns of close encounter with 150-foot asteroid set to pass Earth tomorrow

A massive asteroid, 2025 BX1, is on a near-miss course with Earth, with NASA alerting the public about its close approach on February 16, 2025, at 10:38 AM IST. While the asteroid will pass by at a relatively close distance, experts assure that there is no risk of it striking our planet.

Key Details on Asteroid 2025 BX1:

Size: 150 feet wide

Speed: Moving at a rapid 37,074 km/h

Distance from Earth: At its closest, it will be 2.76 million kilometers away

Despite its impressive size and speed, the asteroid does not qualify as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA), which refers to objects over 140 meters in size and within 7.5 million kilometers of Earth.

The Importance of Asteroid Monitoring

NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) works in tandem with observatories such as Pan-STARRS, Catalina Sky Survey, and NEOWISE to closely track asteroids. Advanced radar systems, including NASA’s Goldstone Radar, refine asteroid trajectories, helping predict future flybys. Upcoming missions like the NEO Surveyor will further strengthen efforts to detect and monitor asteroids at an early stage.