A Thrilling Close Encounter with an Asteroid!

Hold onto your telescopes! An asteroid nearly as tall as the Washington Monument is set to make a breathtaking, close flyby of Earth on September 18. The excitement doesn't stop there—you can watch this cosmic visitor live online through the Virtual Telescope Project!

What You Need to Know About 2025 FA22

The asteroid, known as 2025 FA22, will pass by Earth at a distance of 523,206 miles (842,018 kilometers), roughly 2.2 times the distance to the Moon, meaning there's no threat to our planet or its lunar neighbor. This exhilarating event will occur at 3:42 a.m. EDT (0742 GMT), but be sure to tune in early!

Watch Live as It Approaches!

Mark your calendars! Stargazers can catch all the action starting at 11 p.m. EDT on September 17 (3:00 a.m. GMT September 18) on the Virtual Telescope Project’s YouTube channel. Viewers will enjoy stunning live feeds from robotic telescopes stationed in Italy as this gigantic asteroid nears its closest point to Earth.

A Discovery Worth Celebrating

Discovered just this March by the Pan-STARRS observatory, this 427-951 feet wide (130-290 meters) asteroid was categorized as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) due to its impressive size, brightness, and orbit, sparking excitement in the astronomical community.

A Rare Event to Cherish!

According to Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Institute, while this close approach poses no risk, it is still an extraordinary event. Such encounters with objects of this magnitude happen only once every decade on average! After its flyby, 2025 FA22 will continue its journey through the solar system on a 668-day orbital path that will take it far beyond Mars.

Get Ready for a Night to Remember!

This is your chance to witness a spectacular cosmic show! Don't miss the opportunity to see 2025 FA22 as it glides safely past Earth. Tune in and let the wonders of the universe unfold before your eyes!