NASA has confirmed that a celestial visitor, the asteroid 2025 TF, recently made a remarkably close pass by Earth. The space rock, estimated to be about the size of a sofa, skirted the planet on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 8:49 PM EDT, which was early Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 12:49 AM GMT.
The asteroid's trajectory brought it within approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) of Earth's surface, an altitude comparable to the orbital path of the International Space Station. While this was a close encounter, it was not the closest recorded; in 2020, asteroid 2020 VT4 passed even nearer, at a distance of about 370 kilometers (230 miles). While this was a close encounter, it was not the closest recorded; in 2020, asteroid 2020 VT4 passed even nearer, at a distance of about 370 kilometers (230 miles). It is common for such objects to be detected only after their closest approach, as noted by the European Space Agency in the past. For example, the European Space Agency (ESA) explained that new telescopes detected 2020 VT4 after the object had passed.
Asteroid 2025 TF measures between 1.2 and 2.7 meters (approximately 4 to 9 feet) in diameter. It was discovered by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey on October 1, 2025, at 2:35 AM EDT, a few hours after its closest approach. Calculations from NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory indicate the asteroid's closest passage occurred over Antarctica, at an altitude of approximately 423 kilometers (260 miles) above the surface. These calculations are subject to a margin of error influenced by observation precision.
Despite its proximity, asteroid 2025 TF posed no threat to Earth. This event highlights the continuous importance of enhancing asteroid detection capabilities, as smaller near-Earth objects are often identified only after their closest approach. NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) has been upgraded to a four-telescope array, enabling it to scan the entire dark sky every 24 hours to provide earlier warnings for potentially hazardous space rocks. Ongoing research, including efforts by scientists at MIT, aims to improve the detection of smaller asteroids, underscoring humanity's commitment to planetary defense.