NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has information about the potentially dangerous asteroid 349507, also known as 2008 QY. This space rock is not new to the solar system, but its return pass near Earth after more than three decades is a reminder of how dynamic our neighborhood can be. The current projections place its closest approach at a distance of roughly six million kilometers, a separation that keeps it well outside Earth’s immediate danger zone but still within the range that scientists monitor carefully to understand small-body behavior in our planetary system.
New data indicate that 349507, styled as QY 2008 in some catalogs, will reach its nearest point to Earth on October 3 at 20:39 UTC, which corresponds to 23:39 Moscow time. The predicted minimum distance is about 0.042 astronomical units, translating to around 6.3 million kilometers. In the framework used by astronomers, objects crossing within about seven and a half million kilometers of Earth are flagged as potentially dangerous due to their proximity, even though this designation does not imply an imminent collision risk. The classification serves as a precaution and a cue for ongoing observation.
Estimations place the asteroid’s size in a broad range, with diameters from roughly 520 meters up to 1.2 kilometers. Its velocity is a brisk 20.96 kilometers per second, a pace that reflects the dynamic nature of near-Earth objects traveling through the inner solar system. Such measurements are crucial for modeling how the asteroid moves over time and how gravitational influences from planets could alter its trajectory in subsequent passes.
349507 was first discovered by astronomers on September 30, 1989. After its initial detection, it faded from the radar and optical view for more than three decades, only to reappear on February 13, 2023. This gap illustrates how some near-Earth objects can hide in the vastness of space for long periods before returning to observable positions from Earth-based facilities and space telescopes. The renewed attention to this object underscores the importance of continued surveying and cataloging of small bodies that cross or approach Earth’s orbital path.
Asteroids such as 349507 are categorized as Earth-crossers because their orbits intersect or come close to Earth’s path around the Sun. This classification helps scientists understand potential interaction scenarios, even though crossing orbits does not automatically imply an imminent collision. The ongoing monitoring helps researchers refine orbital calculations and assess any long-term risk across many possible future configurations of the asteroid’s path.
In late August, another object, asteroid 6037 (1988 EG), with a diameter near 960 meters, also passed by about six million kilometers from Earth. Faina Rubleva, the scientific director of the Moscow Planetarium, noted that while such flybys are scientifically interesting and offer valuable data, the odds of an actual Earth impact remain extremely low. This kind of event highlights the breadth of near-Earth studies, where multiple objects can provide comparative data about composition, structure, and orbital dynamics.
Experts continue to emphasize that the risk from asteroids like 349507 is often a function of precise orbital calculations and long-term monitoring. Even with years of data, small gravitational nudges from planets and the gravitational landscape of the solar system can gently alter an asteroid’s course. The takeaway is not alarm but awareness: sustained observation, improved detection technologies, and international collaboration enable scientists to track these rocks and understand their behavior over time. The focus remains on gathering accurate measurements, updating orbital models, and communicating findings clearly to the public to support informed awareness rather than sensationalism.