Asteroid 2014 TN17: A massive space rock speeds towards Earth at 77,282 km/h

A massive asteroid, 2014 TN17, is set to make a close approach to Earth on March 26, 2025, at 5:04 PM IST. Traveling at an astonishing 77,282 km/h, this 540-foot-wide (165-meter) space rock—nearly twice the width of the Taj Mahal—has drawn attention due to its classification as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA).

Although it will pass at a safe distance of 5 million kilometers—more than 13 times the distance between Earth and the Moon—experts warn that a shift in its orbit could pose a threat in the future. A PHA is any asteroid that comes close enough and is large enough to cause significant damage if its trajectory changes due to gravitational forces or space collisions.

NASA Closely Monitors Apollo-Class Asteroid 2014 TN17

Belonging to the Apollo group of near-Earth objects (NEOs), 2014 TN17 follows an orbit that crosses Earth's path. While it is not an immediate danger, a slight deviation could turn it into a catastrophic threat. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), along with global space agencies and amateur astronomers, is keeping a round-the-clock watch on such asteroids using advanced telescopes and radar systems.

Potential Impact: A Disaster of Massive Proportions

Though 2014 TN17 will pass safely this time, an impact from an asteroid of its size would be catastrophic. Scientists estimate that a 540-foot asteroid impact would release energy equivalent to hundreds of nuclear explosions, flattening cities, triggering firestorms, and disrupting global climate for centuries. The 1908 Tunguska event, which leveled 2,000 square kilometers of forest in Siberia, was caused by a space object half the size of 2014 TN17.

With the risks posed by near-Earth asteroids, experts emphasize the importance of continuous tracking, early warnings, and planetary defense strategies to mitigate future threats.