A 130-foot rock raced past Earth at 17,400 mph in 2013

Space · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In February 2013, a small asteroid named 2012 DA14 performed one of the closest recorded flybys of our planet. While it posed no threat of collision, its proximity offered scientists a rare laboratory to study near-Earth objects in high definition using radar technology.

On February 15, 2013, asteroid 2012 DA14 passed Earth at a distance of approximately 27,700 kilometers (17,200 miles). To put this proximity in perspective, the object moved within the orbital ring of geosynchronous weather and communications satellites, which sit roughly 35,800 kilometers above the equator. Despite this closeness, it remained well above most human-made structures, including the International Space Station.

Moving from south towards north, the space rock maintained a speed of roughly 7.8 kilometers per second (17,400 mph). Because of its relatively small size—estimated by astronomers to be roughly 45 meters (150 feet) across or 130 feet long—it was impossible to see with the naked eye. Even through large optical telescopes, it appeared only as a point of light, reaching a magnitude of 7.5.

NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office used observations to accurately predict the path, confirming there was zero chance of impact. Scientists utilized one of NASA's Deep Space Network antennas to capture a series of radar images as the asteroid moved away from Earth. These pixelated images were vital for determining its trajectory and physical dimensions. Objects of this specific size cross Earth's orbit at such close range only about once every 40 years.

The flyby served as a critical data collection event. By analyzing the radar returns, researchers could study the characteristics of a near-Earth object that would otherwise be too small to observe in detail. The event highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring and the ability to track small, fast-moving bodies that navigate our orbital neighborhood.

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