Sunday, 10 August 2025

Confirmed Upcoming Flybys (No Threat)

Confirmed Upcoming Flybys (No Threat)

August 5, 2025 – Asteroid 2025 OT7, approx. 170 ft across (airplane-sized), will pass Earth at no risk of impact.

August 8, 2025 – Two larger asteroids will fly by:

2025 OJ1 (~300 ft tall) at ~3.2 million miles.

2019 CO1 (~200 ft) at ~4.24 million miles. Both confirmed safe.


March–April 2025 – Several small asteroids (sizes ~13 m to 34 m) like 2025 FQ7, FZ3, FS11, FC6, and FL7 will pass within a few million kilometers. These present no known threat.



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Previously-Risklisted Asteroid: 2024 YR4

Initially (late January–February 2025), 2024 YR4 had a Torino scale rating of 3, with impact odds exceeding 1% for December 22, 2032.

Follow-up observations, including by the James Webb Space Telescope, reduced the probability to effectively zero, and its Torino rating dropped to 0. It's now not considered a threat to Earth; only a very small (~4%) chance remains of it hitting the Moon instead.



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Hidden Venus Co-orbital “City-Killers”

Astronomers have identified a cluster of asteroids co-orbiting with Venus, many exceeding 140 m in size and potentially capable of catastrophic impacts on Earth. These objects are difficult to detect due to solar glare.

Enhanced detection capabilities, including the upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory (starting mid-2025) and potential space-based Venus-centric missions, are being discussed to monitor these elusive threats.



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Longer-Term Watch List

2027 – Asteroid 1999 AN10, ~0.8–1.8 km wide, will pass Earth on August 7, 2027, at a safe distance (~0.0026 AU), and is visible via binoculars. It has a well-known orbit and poses no immediate risk.

Apophis (99942) – Will make a notably close approach in April 2029 (~31,600 km distance), closer than geostationary satellites. Careful orbit analysis shows no risk of impact for at least 100 years. The encounter presents valuable scientific opportunities.

Asteroid (29075) 1950 DA – Estimated impact risk is extremely low, with probabilities of about 0.039%, targeting a distant year around 2880.



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Summary Table

Timeframe Object(s) Status / Risk Level

2025 (Mar–Aug) Various NEO flybys All confirmed as safe
2032 (2024 YR4) Former risklisted object Risk now eliminated
2027 1999 AN10 Close pass; no threat
2029 Apophis (99942) Close but safe; no risk through 2129
Undated (Venus co-orb) Hidden city-killer asteroids Potential long-term concern; under study



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Final Word

No known asteroid currently presents a danger to Earth within this year or the next several years. While a few close flybys are upcoming, all are confirmed safe. Past concerns about objects like 2024 YR4 have been dropped following refined observations. The main focus now is on hidden asteroids near Venus—a longer-term risk that global detection initiatives aim to address.



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