On this day in space! Oct. 31, 2015: Creepy skull-shaped Halloween asteroid flies by Earth, NASA names it the 'Great Pumpkin'

A Halloween Asteroid Flyby

On October 31, 2015, an unusual asteroid from deep space made a close flyby of Earth. Coinciding precisely with Halloween night, the approaching space rock featured a shape that strikingly resembled a human skull.

NASA Dubs It the 'Great Pumpkin'

The eerie and skull-like appearance of the asteroid quickly caught the attention of researchers and the public alike. Due to its uncanny timing during its flyby on October 31, NASA scientists gave the object the nickname 'Great Pumpkin'.

A Memorable Moment in Space Observations

This 2015 close approach remains a memorable space event demonstrating the intriguing variety of shapes among near-Earth objects. The asteroid safely continued its orbital path through space without posing any threat to our planet.