A 9.8-foot asteroid named 2025 TF passed within 300 miles of Earth on October 1, 2025, closer than the International Space Station’s orbit, but was only detected hours after its closest approach. The object flew over Antarctica at 01:47:26 BST, with the Catalina Sky Survey identifying it afterward. The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed 2025 TF posed no significant threat, noting such objects typically burn up in the atmosphere or create fireballs without endangering the surface. Despite its proximity, no satellites or spacecraft were in its path. NASA has listed the asteroid on its Near-Earth Object Studies database, with plans for a safer encounter in 2087. Experts highlighted challenges in tracking small space objects, emphasizing the need for improved planetary defense systems.
Close Call with Asteroid 2025 TF Sparks Concerns Over Planetary Defense Gaps
