Close Approach of 2025 GD

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2025 GD, will make a close approach on 2025-Apr-05 20:39±00:02 UT at a distance of 0.00635 AU moving with V Relative=11.67 km/sec, H=24.8 magnitude, diameter 29 m - 66 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of 2025 Apr 3 there is a 1 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.00402255 AU. The solution date was 2025-Apr-03 06:19:38 PDT. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa on 2025-04-01. This NEO is too small to make MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). The close approach on 1952 Apr 4 at 0.00455 AU was about as close as this NEO can get. No more close approaches to earth are predicted before 2071.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Apr 3 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.14 Visual Pro predicts that this object will make its close approach (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Apr 5 1700 EDT (2100 UT) with the NEO traveling through Hydra at 153"/minute and 15.8 magnitude, but in daylight and low on the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Peak brightness of 15.6 magnitude is predicted on Apr 5 at 1100 EDT (1500 UT) with the NEO traveling through Leo at ~140"/minute in daylight, but below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The object may be visible from North America in a 13" telescope on the morning of Apr 5 when the object will be traveling through Leo Minor into Leo at ~110"/minute and 15.8 magnitude.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 GD:    

Since this object will pass very close to earth, for the most accurate predicted positions, observers should download orbital elements close to their time of observation. Refer to the pinned post at the top of this forum section for instructions about adding orbital elements to the minor planet database.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

[theolouis]

@build now gg Hi Phil, thanks for the detailed info on 2025 GD! You mentioned its close approach in 1952 and that no more close approaches are predicted before 2071. Could you share any insights on how its orbit might evolve after 2071, or what factors could influence future close encounters with Earth?

[PMSchu]

Hi theolouis,

You can find detailed close approach data for minor planet 2025 GD at this website:

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_look...D&view=OPC

I made an error about this NEO's future close approaches because some of the close approaches are with Mars. Here are some of the predicted close approaches for Earth and Mars:

2043-Apr-13 13:48 ± 6_12:23 Earth Nominal 0.10702 AU Minimum 0.03851 AU Maximum 0.19084 AU V Relative=10.69 km/sec
2068-Mar-26 18:39 ± 4_23:37 Earth Nominal 0.17010 AU Minimum 0.07502 AU Maximum 0.26557 AU V Relative=14.69 km/sec
2071-Jul-14 04:00 ±  23:47     Mars  Nominal 0.01380 AU Minimum 0.01365 AU Maximum 0.07242 AU V Relative= 8.82 km/sec

Once you get to the Small Body Database Lookup webpage, you can input the designation of other minor planets of interest.

As for how the orbits evolve over time, all of the minor planets (MPs) are subject to gravitational perturbations caused by the major planets as the MPs pass close by. The closer the pass, the greater the perturbation or deflection of the MP's motion. This changes the parameters of the orbit for the MP's motion after the close approach. There are also smaller effects on the MP's motion caused by solar irradiation on the surface of the MP. It's very hard to predict the motion of these objects accurately more than 100 years into the future, so even the pros don't usually try. You can see that the uncertainty for the close approach time with Earth in 2043 is 6 days and 12 hours. Oddly, it's only ~5 days in 2068.

Hope this helps,

Phil S.