Asteroid Alert: A 2025 QD8 Close Encounter!

Get ready for an astronomical event that’s out of this world! An asteroid roughly the size of a commercial jet, named 2025 QD8, is set to make its thrilling approach to Earth on September 3rd, passing within a jaw-dropping 135,465 miles (218,009 kilometers)—that’s about 57% of the distance to the moon!

Mark your calendars for 10:57 a.m. ET (2:56 p.m. GMT) as this celestial traveler streaks by at a staggering speed of over 28,000 miles per hour (45,000 km/h)! But don’t worry—this rock poses no threat to our planet or our lunar neighbor.

Join the Live Stream!

Want to experience the excitement? The Virtual Telescope Project has got you covered! They will host a FREE live YouTube stream starting at 7 p.m. ET (11:00 p.m. GMT) on the same day, featuring stunning views captured by their robotic telescopes in beautiful Manciano, Italy.

Just a few days ago, on August 30th, they successfully snapped an image of 2025 QD8 from a jaw-dropping distance of 2.4 million miles (3.9 million kilometers) with their trusty 17-inch telescope, affectionately named "Elena." This 300-second exposure reveals the asteroid as a tiny dot in the vastness of the cosmos, showcasing the beauty of our universe.

A Reminder of Cosmic Wonders

NASA and its allies have identified tens of thousands of asteroids that venture close to Earth's orbit—many of which could potentially pose risks in the future. But for now, let’s celebrate this awe-inspiring moment when 2025 QD8 safely whizzes by. Don’t miss it!