NASA, the United States space agency, has issued a warning about a massive asteroid, known as Asteroid 535844 (2015 BY310), that is hurtling toward Earth at exceptionally high speed.
This potentially hazardous space rock, which could cause significant destruction if it were to collide with our planet, is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, as per reports.
Key Details About the Asteroid
Asteroid 535844 (2015 BY310) falls under the category of a Near-Earth Object (NEO), which refers to space rocks that travel within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit. NASA has been keeping a close watch on this particular asteroid due to its relatively near flyby. On March 5, at approximately 4:28 PM IST, the asteroid is expected to pass by Earth at a distance of about 3.67 million kilometres — roughly 9.5 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.
Speed and Path of the Asteroid
What makes Asteroid 535844 (2015 BY310) particularly fascinating is its incredible speed. The asteroid is racing through space at a staggering 28,298 km/h — much faster than most commercial rockets. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been closely monitoring its path using advanced radar systems and telescopes, and experts have confirmed that the asteroid does not pose any danger to Earth during this upcoming flyby.
Why Is NASA Tracking This Asteroid?
Asteroids like 535844 (2015 BY310) are important to researchers because they hold clues about how the solar system formed over 4.5 billion years ago. These ancient space rocks help scientists understand how planets evolved.
Tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs) is also a key part of planetary defence, as studying their movements helps experts improve prediction methods and prepare for any future asteroid threats — even though this particular asteroid will pass Earth safely.
