Asteroid 2025 TF flew over Antarctica at 00:47:26 UTC ± 18 s on 1 October, coming as close as 428 ± 7 km to Earth’s surface. This is a similar altitude to the orbit of the International Space Station (approx. 370—460 km).
The asteroid is roughly 1 to 3 metres across and was first spotted by the Catalina Sky Survey a few hours after it had passed Earth. Objects of this size pose no significant danger. They can produce fireballs if they strike Earth’s atmosphere, and may result in the discovery of small meteorites on the ground.
Astronomers in ESA’s Planetary Defence Office observed the object shortly after its discovery, using the Las Cumbres Observatory telescope in Siding Spring, Australia.
Tracking down a metre-scale object in the vast darkness of space at a time when its location is still uncertain is an impressive feat. This observation helped astronomers determine the close approach distance and time given above to such high precision.
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