On January 20, 2025, asteroid 2025 AY2, measuring approximately 220 feet in diameter, is set to pass near Earth. Discovered earlier this year, it is traveling at a speed of 83,788 kilometers per hour.
NASA has identified multiple asteroids, including 2025 BA, 2025 AY2, and 2025 BJ, that are expected to come close to Earth. Monitoring efforts are underway to assess any potential threats posed by these celestial objects.
When 2025 AY2 approaches, it will be about 6,790,000 kilometers from Earth. Although this distance is significant in terrestrial terms, it is relatively close in the context of space. NASA considers any asteroid that passes within 8 million kilometers of Earth as a potential risk.
Scientists have stated that there is no immediate danger from 2025 AY2, but they will continue to monitor its trajectory until it moves away from Earth. A collision with such an asteroid could result in substantial damage.
Historically, scientists believe that an asteroid impact approximately 66 million years ago contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Another notable near-Earth object, asteroid Apophis, is expected to pass within 31,860 kilometers of Earth on April 13, 2029, marking the closest approach of an asteroid of this size known to scientists.