Smita Mishra 
A series of asteroids are expected to pass close to Earth in the coming months, but fortunately, none of them pose an immediate threat to our planet.
According to NASA’s Asteroid Watch, which tracks near-Earth objects (NEOs), several asteroids will come within a few lunar distances (LD) of Earth. A lunar distance is the average distance between the Earth and the Moon, approximately 239,000 miles or 384,000 kilometers.
The first asteroid, 2012 PB20, is estimated to be around 30-60 meters in size and probably to passed within 3.5 LD of Earth on February 9, 2025. While this may seem close, it’s essential to note that asteroids of this size are relatively common and pose no significant threat to Earth.
In March, asteroid 2021 FH1, estimated to be around 23-52 meters in size, will pass within 3.8 LD of Earth. This asteroid, like many others, is a small, rocky object that orbits the Sun.
On April 11, 2025, two asteroids, 2023 HG and 2023 KU, will pass within 3.6 LD and 2.76 LD of Earth, respectively. While these asteroids will come relatively close to Earth, they are still expected to safely pass by our planet.
NASA’s Asteroid Watch
NASA’s Asteroid Watch is a critical program that tracks NEOs, including asteroids and comets. The program uses a combination of ground-based telescopes and space-based observatories to detect and track these objects.
Asteroid Watch provides critical information to astronomers, scientists, and the general public about the orbits and potential threats of NEOs. The program also plays a key role in planning for potential asteroid deflection missions.
Asteroid Deflection Missions
While the asteroids mentioned above pose no immediate threat to Earth, scientists and engineers are working on developing strategies for deflecting asteroids that could potentially impact our planet.
NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, launched in 2021, is a critical step in developing asteroid deflection technology. The mission aims to test a kinetic impactor technique, which involves colliding a spacecraft with an asteroid to change its orbit.
While asteroids will continue to pass close to Earth, the vast majority of them pose no significant threat to our planet. NASA’s Asteroid Watch and other asteroid tracking programs around the world provide critical information about these objects and help scientists and engineers develop strategies for deflecting potentially hazardous asteroids.
As we continue to explore and understand our solar system, it’s essential to stay informed about asteroids and other NEOs. By working together, we can better prepare for potential asteroid threats and continue to explore and understand our universe.
