Asteroid 2003 MH4 safely flew by Earth at an approximate distance of 6.68 million kilometers with a velocity of around 8.35 kilometers per second today (May 24, 2025, at 10:37 UTC).
The asteroid 2003 MH4, designated as 387746, was discovered in 2003. Comparable in size to the Eiffel Tower, it is classified as an Apollo-class Near-Earth Object (NEO) and a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) due to its size and proximity to Earth’s orbit.
Physical characteristics
Asteroid 2003 MH4 has an estimated diameter of approximately 335 meters, making it comparable in size to the Eiffel Tower. Its albedo (reflectivity) is measured at 0.132, and it has an absolute magnitude of 20.1.
Orbital characteristics
Asteroid 2003 MH4 orbits the Sun every 1,010 days (approximately 2.77 years). Its orbit ranges from a perihelion (closest point to the Sun) of 0.96 AU to an aphelion (farthest point) of 2.97 AU. The asteroid’s orbit has an eccentricity of 0.5134 and an inclination of 3.89 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane.
Future Flybys
- May 23, 2036, at a distance of approximately 7.45 million kilometers.
- April 17, 2047, at about 9.99 million kilometers.
- March 27, 2058, at a distance of approximately 11.53 million kilometers.
NASA and other space agencies are actively monitoring asteroids to evaluate potential future risks and improve planetary defense strategies. In preparation for future missions aimed at studying asteroids, NASA is set to examine the well-known asteroid Apophis during its close flyby in 2029.