On May 9, 2025, asteroid 612356 (2002 JX8), estimated to be between 250 and 600 meters across, safely passed by Earth. Despite being classified as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" due to its size and orbit, space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), confirmed there was no risk of collision.
The asteroid approached Earth at a distance of approximately 4.2 million kilometers (2.6 million miles), which is about 11 times the average distance between Earth and the Moon. This close approach allowed astronomers and enthusiasts to observe the celestial event. The Virtual Telescope Project, for example, provided a live stream of the asteroid's flyby.
Asteroid 2002 JX8 is classified as an Aten asteroid, meaning its orbit crosses Earth's and it orbits the sun in less than a year. While it frequently passes by Earth and Venus, current projections indicate no immediate threat to our planet. Another asteroid, 424482 (2008 DG5), is expected to pass by Earth on June 5, 2025, at a distance of 3.5 million kilometers.