ASTEROID 2025 OW (PLANE‑SIZED) FLIES PAST EARTH AT 47,000 MPH—DISTANCE 393,000 MILES
On July 28, 2025, a plane-sized asteroid designated 2025 OW will make a notably close pass of our planet—coming within approximately 393,000 miles, or about 1.6 times the average distance to the Moon
Measuring roughly 210‑220 feet in diameter—comparable to a commercial airplane or the height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa—2025 OW is traveling at an estimated 46,900 to 47,000 miles per hour (about 75,500 km/h) as it sweeps past Earth
Despite the impressive size and speed, NASA experts have been quick to emphasize that this flyby is routine and poses no danger to Earth. According to Ian J. O’Neill of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, “If there was a threat, you would hear from us,” noting that the asteroid’s orbit is precisely tracked and reliably forecasted for decades to come
Davide Farnocchia of NASA’s Center for Near‑Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) echoed this sentiment: “Close approaches happen all the time—it’s just part of the fabric of the solar system.” His team tracks multiple asteroids every week, with five other near‑Earth objects set for similar flybys in the same week
Asteroids of this size—around 200 feet—would generally disintegrate in the atmosphere if they were headed toward Earth, causing at most minor impacts like breaking windows or generating sonic booms locally. They are not capable of causing widespread damage
2025 OW’s close approach is indeed nearer than other asteroids passing around the same timeframe, but still safely beyond Earth’s orbit. The asteroid passes outside the average lunar distance and remains well within expected safe parameters
For those hoping to catch a glimpse, the asteroid won’t be visible to the naked eye or binoculars. Farnocchia noted that there will be a more visually remarkable event in April 2029: the much larger asteroid Apophis (about 1,115 feet) will pass within 38,000 km—closer than many geostationary satellites—and may even be visible without a telescope
In summary:
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2025 OW is approximately 210–220 feet in length.
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It will pass Earth on July 28, 2025, at a speed of roughly 46,900–47,000 mph.
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Its minimum distance of 393,000 miles poses no threat.
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NASA tracks these events routinely and communicates any real danger proactively.
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Similar close flies are common—several occur every week.
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A more spectacular asteroid event—Apophis’s close pass—is expected in April 2029.
While headlines may sensationalize the terms “plane‑sized asteroid” and “close flyby,” NASA and other space agencies continually monitor such objects and confirm that Earth remains safe from this particular celestial neighbor.