A newly discovered space rock zoomed safely by Earth on Wednesday (Oct. 15) at only about a quarter of the average distance to the moon.

According to NASA, "Asteroid 2024 YR4 is now too far away to observe with either space or ground-based telescopes. The space agency expects to make further observations when the asteroid’s orbit around the Sun brings it back into the vicinity of Earth in 2028.

NASA confirms four asteroids, ranging from car- to house-sized, will pass Earth safely on 13–14 October 2025, posing no threat.

Earth just got a new tag-along in space — a little asteroid named 2025 PN7. NASA confirmed this week that the rock, discovered by the University of Hawaii, is officially a “quasi-moon” — a rare type of celestial companion that travels almost exactly in sync with Earth.

An asteroid just flew closer to Earth than many satellites, according to space agencies. The space object, named 2025 TF, zoomed over Antarctica at a distance of just 265 miles above the Earth's surface last Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 8:47 p.m. ET, the European Space Agency said on Monday. The International Space Station orbits at a similar altitude.

Observing such asteroids allows scientists to refine orbital predictions, study their composition and structure, and prepare for potential future encounters or impact mitigation strategies. NASA reports: How close will asteroid 2025 SA3 come to Earth NASA ...

Scientists have confirmed the discovery of a new quasi-moon, 2025 PN7, a small asteroid that will shadow Earth’s orbit for more than a century before being pulled away by the sun’s gravity, according to a September study from the American Astronomical Society.