Asteroid the size of a 15-story building: The truth about approaching Earth on August 17
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| Photo image Wow Fact Daily |
What is the truth?
Asteroid 2025 PM
According to Russian press, asteroid 2025 PM has a diameter of about 50 meters (equivalent to several high-rise buildings) and will fly past Earth at 12:03 on August 17, 2025, Moscow time.
The distance at that time is estimated to be less than 1 million km, which is smaller than the diameter of the Moon's orbit (24h.com.vn, Baomoi).
However, NASA does not list this as a “dangerous perigee” event and the possibility of collision is very low.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 – “exactly 15 stories tall”
The object that is compared to a 15-story building (about 60 meters) is actually 2024 YR4, observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Scientists previously warned of the possibility of 2024 YR4 colliding with Earth in 2032, but this risk has been eliminated.
Currently, there is only a small probability (4.3%) that it could collide with the Moon in the same year (NASA Science, New York Post).
Quick summary
Object Size Time of approach Risk 2025 PM~50m (a few buildings) 8/17/2025, ≤1 million km Very low, not dangerous 2024 YR4~60m (15-story building) Not close to Earth 8/17/2025; tracking until 2032 No threat to Earth; small chance of hitting the Moon
Conclusion
Asteroid 2025 PM will indeed fly by Earth on August 17, 2025, but it is not a “15-story” object as many news reports have suggested.
The asteroid is the size of a “15-story building” and is 2024 YR4, but it is not directly related to the August 17 event and does not pose a threat to Earth in the near future.
In other words, there is no risk of collision with Earth on August 17, 2025, but scientists continue to closely monitor the orbits of asteroids to promptly warn when necessary.
