If 2025 FA22 were to strike Earth, scientists warn, the impact could devastate a major city, triggering fires, shockwaves, and even tsunamis. Thankfully, current calculations show it will pass safely.
Although it won’t be visible to the naked eye, astronomers with powerful telescopes or binoculars may spot it around 3:40 a.m. ET on September 18 as a faint moving dot against the night sky.
What Are Asteroids?
Asteroids are rocky remnants from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. Most reside in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, though some travel along the orbital paths of planets, including Earth.
- Composition: Mostly rock, some with clays, nickel, or iron
- Shape: Often jagged and irregular, unlike planets
- Size: Range from pebbles to hundreds of miles wide
According to NASA, there are more than 1.3 million known asteroids, with over 30,000 classified as near-Earth objects.
Global Efforts to Track Space Hazards
The flyby of 2025 FA22 underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring of space rocks. Programs like NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office and ESA’s asteroid tracking systems are designed to detect and assess threats early.
