That flyby puts the asteroid at the same approximate altitude as the International Space Station.
While that's a close shave, it's actually not a record. Five years ago, asteroid 2020 VT4 flew by us at about 230 miles (370 km) in altitude. Back then, the European Space Agency said telescopes only picked out the record-breaking 2020 visitor after that asteroid had safely whizzed by.
The new asteroid, 2025 TF, is small by space standards. It is about the size of a couch, with an estimated diameter of between three and nine feet (1.2 and 2.7 meters). According to The Watchers, astronomers found this new asteroid a few hours after its closest approach, but NASA — due to the impacts of a government-wide shutdown — has not issued a statement confirming this.
