Close Encounter: Newly Discovered Asteroid Whizzes by Earth at Record Speed

Newly discovered asteroid C9FMVU2, measuring just 6.5 feet wide, came within an astonishing 2,500 miles of Earth's surface, 100 times closer than the Moon. Despite its proximity, the European Space Agency (ESA) reassured the public that the small size of the asteroid posed no threat to our planet. Astronomers have identified over 30,000 near-Earth asteroids, with approximately 2,300 classified as potentially hazardous by NASA. Efforts are ongoing to map out the population of space rocks near Earth to ensure preparedness for any unexpected collisions.