Lagos, Nigeria – September 16, 2025
Astronomers have confirmed that the near-Earth asteroid 2025 FA22 will make a close but safe flyby of Earth on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
The asteroid is estimated to measure between 120 and 280 meters in diameter, roughly the length of two football fields. It is expected to pass at a distance of 523,000 miles (842,000 kilometers)—more than twice the average distance between Earth and the Moon.
Experts note that such a close approach by an object of this size occurs on average once every 10 years, but emphasize that the flyby poses no threat to the planet.
“While this is an absolutely safe approach, it is still remarkable: a similarly close encounter, involving an object of that size, happens on average once every 10 years,” said astronomer Gianluca Masi of The Virtual Telescope Project, which will provide a live online viewing of the flyby.
The asteroid will reach a brightness magnitude of 13.2, making it observable with small telescopes. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has confirmed the asteroid’s trajectory and size, ensuring there is no risk of impact.
