NASA has confirmed that asteroid 2025 MV89, a space rock roughly 120 feet wide—about the size of a small passenger aircraft—will safely pass by Earth on 4th of July.
The asteroid is expected to come as close as 1.22 million kilometres from Earth, travelling at a speed of 19,441 miles per hour.
Belonging to the Aten group of asteroids, which have orbits that often cross Earth’s path, 2025 MV89 is being closely monitored. However, NASA has assured that this particular flyby poses no threat. To be classified as potentially hazardous, an asteroid must be over 150 metres wide and approach within 7.4 million kilometres—criteria this object does not meet.
Despite the low risk, space agencies remain vigilant, as even minor orbital changes can affect future trajectories.
India’s space agency, ISRO, is also enhancing its planetary defence measures. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath recently highlighted the importance of monitoring large objects like asteroid Apophis, which is expected to pass close to Earth in 2029. He stressed the need for collaboration with NASA, ESA, and JAXA to develop more robust asteroid detection and deflection systems.
ISRO is currently working on missions that aim to land on asteroids to study their composition and assess potential impact threats.
While 2025 MV89 poses no immediate danger, NASA emphasized that it serves as a timely reminder of the importance of continuous space surveillance and global cooperation in planetary defence.
