A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2025 TF made an extremely close approach to Earth at 00:49 UTC on October 1, reaching a nominal distance of 0.02 LD (0.00005 AU / 6 790 km / 4 220 miles) from Earth’s center, or about 419 km (260 miles) above the surface over Antarctica.
2025 TF is now ranked as the second-closest asteroid flyby on record, after 2020 VT4, which passed 6 746 km (4 190 miles) from Earth’s center on November 13, 2020. Other exceptionally close encounters include 2024 XA at 7 726 km (4 800 miles), 2024 LH1 at 8 098 km (5 030 miles), 2024 UG9 at 8 850 km (5 500 miles), 2020 QG at 9 317 km (5 790 miles), and 2021 UA1 at 9 427 km (5 860 miles).
Since January 1, 2025, observatories worldwide have detected 118 asteroids passing within 1 lunar distance of Earth, including 2025 TF. In September 2025 alone, 25 asteroids passed within 1 lunar distance of Earth.
The newly-discovered object was first observed at the Kitt Peak-Bok Observatory in Arizona at 06:36 UTC on October 1, less than six hours after its closest approach.
The object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 1.2 and 2.7 m (4–9 feet). It flew past Earth at a relative speed of 20.9 km/s (75 200 km/h or 46 700 mph).
Asteroid 2025 TF close approach to Earth on October 1, 2025. Credit: CNEOS
Orbital calculations suggest 2025 TF follows an elongated path around the Sun, with a semi-major axis of 1.62 AU, perihelion at 0.676 AU, and aphelion at 2.56 AU. Its orbital period is about 2.06 years, with a modest inclination of 9.1° to the ecliptic.
The orbit remains poorly constrained, with current solutions based on a 1-day observation arc and a condition code of 7. Additional observations will be required to refine its trajectory and assess future encounters.
Asteroid 2025 TF orbit diagram. Credit: CNEOS
References:
1 Asteroid 2025 TF – Minor Planet Center – Accessed on October 2, 2025
2 Asteroid 2025 TF – NASA/CNEOS – Accessed on October 2, 2025