“City-Killer” Asteroid to Pass Very Close to Earth Tonight

A massive asteroid from the depths of space is set to pass very close to Earth tonight, according to the U.S. space agency NASA. It will reach its closest point to Earth at 8:56 PM Bangladesh time.

NASA’s Warning

The asteroid, named 2025 QD8, is traveling at a speed of over 45,000 kilometers per hour. Due to its size and speed, NASA has classified it as a potential “city killer”.

The asteroid is estimated to be about 38 meters (124 feet) wide. Tonight, it will pass at a distance of only 218,009 kilometers from Earth—less than half the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

No Collision Risk

Despite its enormous size and destructive potential, scientists have assured that there is no risk of collision with Earth. It will safely pass by at a secure distance.

Discovery

The asteroid was first detected by a team of amateur astronomers working with the Virtual Telescope Project. Using a 17-inch telescope, they captured an image of the asteroid when it was approximately 3.9 million kilometers away from Earth. Its size was estimated based on the amount of light reflected from its surface.

Expert Comments

Shyam Balaji, an astronomer at King’s College London, stated that if an asteroid of this size were to hit Earth, it could cause significant damage. For reference, in 2013, a smaller 18-meter asteroid exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, causing widespread damage. Similarly, the 1908 Tunguska event destroyed thousands of square kilometers of forest.

However, he emphasized that such events are extremely rare, and 2025 QD8 poses no threat to Earth.

Not Visible to the Naked Eye

Unfortunately, the asteroid is too faint to be seen without a telescope. Observers will need a powerful telescope to track it tonight.