On September 18, a massive asteroid named 2025 FA22, comparable in size to a New York City skyscraper, is expected to make a close approach to Earth. This celestial body is traveling at an impressive speed of over 24,000 miles per hour. Scientists highlight that 2025 FA22, measuring between 427 and 951 feet across, will make similar close passes again in the years 2089 and 2173. Observations by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) indicate that there is no immediate threat of a collision with Earth, as calculations have ruled it out, allowing the asteroid to be removed from risk assessments.
Initially detected in March by a telescope in Hawaii, 2025 FA22 was subsequently included on ESA’s roster of potentially hazardous asteroids. While the odds of impacts from such asteroids are low, experts note that the consequences in the event of a collision could be severe, potentially destroying major urban areas and leading to catastrophic events like fires and tsunamis. Despite the looming close passage, the asteroid will not be visible to the naked eye, though it could be seen as a faint dot using strong telescopes or binoculars around 3:40 a.m. ET on September 18.
Asteroids, which constitute remnants from the solar system’s formation billions of years ago, vary greatly in size and orbit around the sun. As of now, NASA estimates there are more than 1.3 million asteroids within our solar system, with over 30,000 classified as near-Earth objects. Near-Earth asteroids are particularly noteworthy because any object larger than 492 feet coming within 4.6 million miles of Earth is designated as potentially hazardous.
NASA’s Asteroid Watch program continuously monitors these near-Earth objects for any potential threats, ensuring that adequate precautions can be taken should a risk materialize in the future. The close approach of 2025 FA22 offers scientists a valuable opportunity to study a body of significant size and speed, lending insights into the nature of asteroids and their trajectories.
The recent interest surrounding this asteroid has piqued public curiosity about asteroids in general and the significant role they play in our solar system. Although the odds of a catastrophic impact from 2025 FA22 are minimal, the event serves as a reminder of the broader realities and dangers posed by celestial objects in space.
As the date approaches, scientists encourage enthusiasts and the public alike to remain informed about the existence and movements of asteroids like 2025 FA22, reinforcing the importance of space observation and monitoring for the safety of life on Earth.
