Asteroid 2025 TF flew past Earth at an altitude similar to that of the International Space Station, but was not spotted by astronomers until hours after it was gone. Photo courtesy European Space Agency
Oct. 8 (UPI) -- International space agencies say an asteroid zipped by Earth closer than a large number of satellites currently in orbit, but was not detected until hours later.
The European Space Agency said Monday that a 3- to 10-foot-wide asteroid was picked up by radar last Wednesday some 265 miles above Earth over Antarctica, near Earth's most southern point, at an altitude similar to that of the International Space Station.
"Tracking down a meter-scale object in the vast darkness of space at a time when its location is still uncertain is an impressive feat," ESA, headquartered in France with offices dotted around the European continent, said on its website.
According to NASA, astronomers at the ESA's planetary defense office failed to notice the asteroid named 2025 TF until hours later it passed by.
