Science

Get Ready for a Spectacular Asteroid Flyby on June 5 – Watch Live!

2025-06-05

Author: Wai

Mark your calendars! An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier is zooming past Earth on June 5, and you won’t want to miss the chance to see it live!

This potentially hazardous asteroid, known as 2008 DG5, has been on NASA’s radar since its discovery in 2008. With an estimated diameter between 1,049 and 2,296 feet (320 to 700 meters), it’s comparable in size to a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier.

Set to make its closest approach at 7:59 PM ET (2359 GMT) on June 5, 2008 DG5 is predicted to glide by at a staggering distance of 2,170,309 miles (3,492,787 kilometers)—over nine times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon. Despite this vast distance, the asteroid will appear as a tiny dot of light visible through powerful telescopes back on Earth.

How to Tune In for the Asteroid's Close Encounter

The Virtual Telescope Project is gearing up to provide a live stream of this cosmic event, starting at 6 PM ET (2200 GMT). Experience real-time views of 2008 DG5 through a network of advanced robotic telescopes.

Just a few days prior, on June 3, the project shared an image of the asteroid taken from a distance of 2.2 million miles (3.6 million km), showcasing it as a bright point of light against the starry backdrop, with star trails indicating its swift movement.

Why Is This Asteroid a Big Deal?

NASA designates asteroids like 2008 DG5 as potentially hazardous based on factors such as size and proximity to Earth, specifically if they approach within 0.05 astronomical units—about 4.65 million miles (7.48 million km). Thankfully, while over 1,784 potentially hazardous asteroids are being tracked, none are predicted to collide with Earth in the coming century.

Don’t miss this stunning opportunity to witness a close encounter with a colossal asteroid! Tune in and marvel at the wonders of our universe.