Large asteroid to pass by Earth this morning, with live streams available for viewing
The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) is gearing up for its FA22 campaign, which aims to test the network's capabilities in measuring asteroid orbits and physical characteristics. The campaign focuses on asteroid 2025 FA22, a space rock that will pass by Earth on September 18, 2025, at 07:41 UTC (09:41 CEST).
Astronomers worldwide will be conducting various observations to study this asteroid. One such technique is astrometry, which involves measuring the asteroid's position, motion, and brightness. Polarimetry, another technique, will be employed to examine how sunlight scatters off the asteroid's surface, providing insights into its composition and texture.
Despite not posing a risk to Earth, this close encounter offers a unique opportunity to study asteroid 2025 FA22. The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA are among the international observatories involved in the observation campaign. The asteroid was initially discovered by an observatory in Hawaii, and ESA played a significant role in coordinating part of the observation campaign.
Initially, there was a small probability that asteroid 2025 FA22 might hit Earth in 2089. However, as astronomers carried out follow-up observations and refined its orbital trajectory, an impact with Earth was eventually ruled out.
The European Space Agency's Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre is playing an active role in the campaign. The asteroid, which is between 130 and 290 metres in size, will come over twice as far away from Earth as the Moon.
The study of asteroids like 2025 FA22 can help inform methods for deflecting dangerous asteroids that might be on a collision course with Earth. The IAWN, the organisation spearheading the observations, is committed to ensuring that humanity is prepared for any potential asteroid threats.
In addition, the Virtual Telescope Project is hosting a livestream of asteroid 2025 FA22's close pass, allowing the public to participate in this historic event. The asteroid was discovered by the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope in March 2025, and its close encounter marks the culmination of the IAWN's FA22 campaign, which is active until the end of October 2025.
In the past, asteroid 2025 FA22 briefly appeared at the top of the European Space Agency's asteroid risk list. However, with the ongoing observations and the wealth of data being collected, we can better understand this celestial body and continue to safeguard our planet from any potential asteroid threats.
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