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NASA Alerts to Untracked 140‑Metre Asteroids Threatening Regional Impact Risk

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  • Stock image: An asteroid heading towards Earth.
    Stock image: An asteroid heading towards Earth.
    Image: Newsweek
    Stock image: An asteroid heading towards Earth. Source Full size
  • A stock image shows an asteroid approaching planet Earth, elements of this image furnished by NASA.
    A stock image shows an asteroid approaching planet Earth, elements of this image furnished by NASA.
    Image: Newsweek
    A stock image shows an asteroid approaching planet Earth, elements of this image furnished by NASA. Source Full size
  • Stock image: An asteroid heading towards Earth.
    Stock image: An asteroid heading towards Earth.
    Image: Newsweek
    Stock image: An asteroid heading towards Earth. Source Full size
  • A stock image shows an asteroid approaching planet Earth, elements of this image furnished by NASA.
    A stock image shows an asteroid approaching planet Earth, elements of this image furnished by NASA.
    Image: Newsweek
    A stock image shows an asteroid approaching planet Earth, elements of this image furnished by NASA. Source Full size

Undetected 140‑Metre Asteroids Pose Regional Damage Risk NASA estimates roughly 25,000 asteroids about 140 m across exist, yet only about 40 % have been surveyed, leaving many hidden from detection [1]. These bodies can cause regional devastation if they strike, and even the most powerful ground‑based telescopes often miss them [1]. The agency stresses that while larger, well‑tracked objects pose less immediate danger, the unknown medium‑sized population remains a significant concern [1].

NASA Tracks Multiple Small Near‑Earth Objects This Week On 17 February 2026, car‑sized asteroid 2026 CR2 (≈9.7 ft) will zip past Earth at 12,616 mph, coming within 84,800 miles [2]. In the same week NASA will monitor larger bodies: stadium‑sized 2026 BX4 at 1.83 million miles, airplane‑sized 2026 AJ17 at 4.14 million miles, 2026 CU at 1.29 million miles, and 110‑ft 2026 CA2 at 2.63 million miles [2]. Impacts from objects up to 30 ft occur roughly every decade, producing bright fireballs and occasional window damage but no major harm [2].

2024 YR4 Impact Odds Revised From 3.1% to Negligible Early 2025 calculations gave the 174‑220‑ft asteroid 2024 YR4 a 3.1 % chance of hitting Earth in 2032, the highest probability ever recorded for an object of its size [1][2]. Updated orbital models have since reduced the Earth‑impact risk to effectively zero, though a possible Moon impact in December 2032 remains under consideration [1][2]. The asteroid is currently too distant for direct observation, with a planned re‑examination in 2028 [1][2].

Potentially Hazardous Asteroid Label Reflects Centuries‑Long Threat The “potentially hazardous asteroid” designation applies to bodies larger than 460 ft that approach within 4.6 million miles of Earth [1]. CNEOS manager Paul Chodas explains the label focuses on long‑term orbital evolution over centuries rather than imminent danger [1]. Consequently, PHAs constitute a small subset of near‑Earth objects whose future paths could intersect Earth far in the future [1].

Global Volunteer Network Enhances Near‑Earth Object Surveillance Amateur astronomers and professional observatories worldwide submit observations to the Minor Planet Center, feeding NASA’s Small Bodies Node [2]. The Planetary Defense Coordination Office and the Center for Near Earth Object Studies use these data to refine trajectories and assess risk [1][2]. Continuous monitoring enables rapid response if any object's risk level changes [1][2].

Sources

Timeline

Feb 2025 – NASA’s CNEOS reports that asteroid 2024 YR4 shows a 3.1 % chance of impacting Earth in 2032, the highest probability ever recorded for an object of its size, prompting heightened monitoring and risk assessment [2].

Jun 2025 – Astronomers announce the discovery of 2025 MN45, a 0.3‑mile‑wide asteroid rotating once every two minutes, setting a new record for spin rate among the 19 super‑ or ultra‑fast rotators identified that year [4].

Dec 9, 2025 – NASA’s JPL tracks asteroid 2025 XM as it flies within 295,000 miles (1.2 × the Moon’s distance) of Earth at 9,753 mph, noting it is well below the 150‑meter hazardous threshold [9].

Dec 11, 2025 – The 41‑foot rock 2025 XF1 passes Earth at 195,000 miles, traveling about 8,000 mph, while the 41‑foot 2025 XK1 follows a day later at 624,000 miles, both posing no impact risk [10].

Dec 15, 2025 – Asteroid 2025 XX2, a 33‑foot bus‑sized object moving at 18,000 mph, approaches within 580,000 miles of Earth, and NASA continues real‑time trajectory updates [8].

Dec 16, 2025 – The 38‑foot 2025 XN4 whizzes past Earth at a “cosmically slight” 123,000 miles, traveling over 33,000 mph, with no threat identified [8].

Dec 22, 2025 – Bus‑sized 2025 YH3 (32 ft) makes its closest approach at 284,000 miles, while larger companions 2025 YC3 and 2025 XT7 pass within ≈2.4 million miles, all monitored by CNEOS [7].

Jan 12, 2026 – NASA’s JPL confirms bus‑sized 2026 AJ (≈40 ft) will miss Earth by ≈961,000 miles, the nearest of five tracked asteroids that day, including 2026 AO and 2022 GR3 [6].

Jan 15, 2026 – The 41‑foot 2026 AZ2 zips past Earth at ≈217,000 miles and 38,500 mph, while plane‑sized 2026 AR1 passes at ≈702,000 miles; the week’s coverage also highlights the record‑fast 2025 MN45 asteroid discovered earlier [5].

Jan 26, 2026 – NASA monitors 2026 BB4, a 54‑foot rock traveling > 26,200 mph, projected to pass within 844,000 miles, and larger 2026 BJ1 (≈220 ft) at 3.07 million miles; CNEOS manager Paul Chodas explains that “potentially hazardous” labels refer to centuries‑long orbital evolution, not imminent danger [4].

Jan 30, 2026 – Bus‑sized 2022 OC3 (≈24 ft) flies by Earth at 311,000 miles on Jan 31, while scientists assess Bennu’s long‑term 1‑in‑2,700 chance of a 2182 impact, which would cause global climate effects [3]; NASA also plans to resume tracking 2024 YR4 when it returns near Earth in 2028 [3].

Feb 16, 2026 – NASA’s JPL tracks car‑sized 2026 CR2 (≈9.7 ft) for a close flyby on Feb 17 at 84,800 miles and 12,616 mph, alongside larger asteroids 2026 BX4, 2026 AJ17, 2026 CU, and 2026 CA2 passing later that week; the agency notes a global volunteer network feeds observations to the Minor Planet Center [2].

Feb 18, 2026 – NASA warns that ~25,000 medium‑sized (≈140 m) asteroids exist, with only ~40 % surveyed, and that such objects could cause regional damage despite being hard to detect, quoting senior scientist Kelly Fast; Paul Chodas reiterates that “potentially hazardous” designations reflect long‑term orbit evolution rather than short‑term impact risk [1].

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