Close Encounter: Newly Discovered Asteroid Skims Earth at Record-Breaking Distance

A newly discovered asteroid, about 6.5 feet wide, passed within 2,500 miles of Earth, five times closer than GPS satellites. Designated C9FMVU2, the asteroid posed no danger to Earth due to its small size. If it had collided with the planet, it would have burned up in the atmosphere, causing a fireball. The close pass altered the asteroid's trajectory due to Earth's gravitational pull. Astronomers are working to map out near-Earth asteroids to prevent unexpected collisions, and space agencies have plans to divert potentially hazardous rocks.