A Close Encounter With a Giant Asteroid!

Mark your calendars! A towering asteroid, designed 2025 FA22, is set to make a thrilling close pass by Earth this Thursday, September 18. While it once had scientists on edge due to a slim chance of collision in 2089, it is now deemed safe, and you can witness this cosmic spectacle from your own backyard or through a free livestream!

Size and Speed: A Fearsome Space Rock!

Measuring between 427 and 951 feet (130 to 290 meters), this 'potentially hazardous' asteroid is large enough to endanger a major city if it were to collide with our planet. On its closest approach, 2025 FA22 will zip by at an astonishing speed of 24,000 mph (38,600 km/h) from a distance of 520,000 miles (approximately 835,000 kilometers)—more than twice the distance to the moon!

From Threat to Safe Passage!

Discovered by the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope in Hawaii earlier this year, 2025 FA22 made headlines when it was identified with a 0.01% chance of striking Earth in the distant future. This information briefly catapulted it to the top of the European Space Agency's risk list, but follow-up observations quickly clarified its true trajectory, solidifying its status as a non-threat. In fact, it was completely removed from the risk list in May.

Don't Miss the Show!

Want to witness the action? The Virtual Telescope Project will be livestreaming the flyby, starting at 11:00 p.m. EDT on September 17. With an expected brightness at an apparent magnitude of 13, you might even spot it with a decent telescope or binoculars! For guidance on tracking it, check out TheSkyLive.com.

Eyes on the Sky!

Astronomers worldwide will keep a watchful eye on 2025 FA22, with advanced instruments like NASA's Goldstone radar telescope providing vital insights into the asteroid’s exact size and shape. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) is also seizing this opportunity to practice its emergency protocols under the guise of the asteroid potentially impacting Earth in 2089. This drill, known as the 2025 FA22 IAWN Campaign, will involve precise measurements of the asteroid's characteristics, ensuring preparedness for any future threats.

Looking Ahead!

Rest assured, 2025 FA22 poses no current danger. The latest NASA calculations indicate that during its next close pass in 2089, it will actually be over 3.7 million miles (6 million km) away—significantly safer than once thought. However, brace yourselves for its thrilling return in 2173, when it will zoom in closer at around 200,000 miles (320,000 km)—a near miss that brings it closer to Earth than the moon!