Asteroid Alert: Huge Space Rock Approaching Earth!

Get ready for a thrilling cosmic event! An asteroid the size of the iconic Washington Monument is set to glide safely past Earth on September 18, and you can catch all the action live, thanks to the Virtual Telescope Project.

Mark Your Calendars: Live Stream This Remarkable Event!

This celestial visitor, known as 2025 FA22, will make its closest approach at 3:42 a.m. EDT (0742 GMT), passing a whopping 523,206 miles (842,018 kilometers) away. That's about 2.2 times the distance to the Moon—perfectly safe for us and our lunar neighbor!

Join the Live Experience from Italy!

Space enthusiasts can tune in to the Virtual Telescope Project’s YouTube stream starting at 11 p.m. EDT on September 17 (3:00 GMT on September 18). Witness live views from robotic telescopes in Italy as this massive asteroid motors towards its near-miss with Earth.

What Makes 2025 FA22 Special?

Discovered just this March by the Pan-STARRS wide-field imaging facility, 2025 FA22 measures between 427 to 951 feet (130 to 290 meters) across. It has been classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid due to its impressive size and brightness, as well as its orbital path that could bring it close to Earth in the future.

A Rare Cosmic Encounter!

Though its approach is entirely safe, Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Institute, notes that such close encounters happen only about once every decade. It's a remarkable opportunity for astronomers and space fans alike!

What’s Next for 2025 FA22?

After this close encounter, 2025 FA22 will resume its journey through the inner solar system, following an orbit that stretches beyond the red planet Mars. Don’t miss out on this spectacular show in the night sky!