NASA is tracking three asteroids passing close to Earth today, with the closest, 2025 CF, coming within 77,200 miles, about one-third of the distance to the Moon. This 12-foot asteroid last came this close in 2013 and is expected to return in 2033. Two larger asteroids, 2025 CD (22 feet) and 2025 CE (43 feet), will remain at much safer distances of 396,000 miles and 680,000 miles, respectively. Additionally, two bus-sized asteroids will pass at a safe distance of several million miles.
NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office continuously tracks Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) to assess potential threats. One asteroid, 2024 YR4, has a 1.2% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. Estimated at 200 feet wide, its potential impact zone spans from South America to sub-Saharan Africa, with damage comparable to the Tunguska event of 1908, which flattened 800 square miles of forest.
To counter such threats, NASA is advancing planetary defense strategies. The DART mission (2022) successfully altered the trajectory of an asteroid by crashing a spacecraft into it. Building on this, the ESA’s Hera mission (2024) is en route to analyze the impact, helping refine asteroid deflection techniques for future planetary protection.
While the risk of a catastrophic impact remains low, continuous monitoring and research are essential for Earth's safety.