ABUJA, Nigeria – Astronomers confirm a giant asteroid will make a rare but safe pass by Earth this week.
The near-Earth asteroid, 2025 FA22, measuring between 120 and 280 metres in diameter — roughly the length of two football fields — will sweep past on Thursday, 18 September, at a distance of 842,000 kilometres, more than twice the distance from Earth to the Moon.
“This is an absolutely safe approach, but still remarkable. An object of this size coming this close happens only once every ten years,” said Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project.
First detected in March 2025 by the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope, the asteroid was initially listed as a potential impact risk for 2089. However, it was later removed from the European Space Agency’s Risk List after its orbit was clarified.
According to the ESA, if an asteroid of this scale struck Earth, it could leave a 4-kilometre-wide crater.
The asteroid will reach a magnitude of 13.2 between 18–22 September, visible through backyard telescopes. The Virtual Telescope Project will livestream the event online from Italy at 03:00 UTC on 18 September.
“This flyby highlights why constant monitoring of near-Earth objects is vital,” Masi added.
Astronomers say public awareness and observation opportunities like this encourage investment in planetary defence.
Giant Asteroid Passes Safely Near Earth in Rare 2025 Flyby
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