Skyscraper-sized asteroid 2025 FA22 to skim past Earth in September; no immediate threat, agencies say

A near-Earth asteroid designated 2025 FA22 is set to pass by Earth in the early hours of Sept. 18, traveling at more than 24,000 mph. The object is estimated to be between 427 and 951 feet in diameter, roughly the size of a large skyscraper. NASA and the European Space Agency say updated measurements show there is no immediate threat, and the asteroid has been removed from the risk list. The incident nonetheless offers scientists a rare opportunity to study a sizable space rock up close while it is influenced by Earth’s gravity.

Astronomers first detected 2025 FA22 in March with a telescope in Hawaii. It was subsequently added to ESA’s watch list of potential dangerous asteroids and categorized as a near-Earth object monitored for possible hazard by NASA’s Asteroid Watch program. The tracking framework uses a threshold: any object larger than about 492 feet that passes within roughly 4.6 million miles of Earth can earn a “potentially hazardous” label. In the current case, the predicted approach remains well outside that immediate danger zone, and updated observations have reduced the risk assessment.

Observers with large telescopes or radar-equipped facilities could spot 2025 FA22 as a faint dot against the stars around 3:40 a.m. ET on Sept. 18. Because the asteroid will be too distant to be seen with the naked eye, it will require optical or radar assistance to track precisely. Scientists stress that the odds of impact are extremely low, and if the object had been on a collision course, the consequences could be severe, potentially affecting multiple regions depending on the trajectory and timing. The current trajectory is moving away from Earth, and both agencies emphasize there is no need for alarm.

The event is being watched closely by space agencies and researchers who study near-Earth objects to refine models of how such bodies move and respond to planetary gravity. The Sept. 18 pass is considered a valuable, low-risk laboratory opportunity to study a large asteroid in a way that is not possible during ordinary observations in deep space. Data gathered during the approach will help analysts improve risk assessments for other large asteroids and inform future mitigation planning for objects that do pose a threat.

Context around the science and public reporting has grown this year after a meteor event in the southeastern United States drew attention to how small space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere. In late June, a meteorite fragment is believed to have crashed through a Georgia home after a fireball sightings were reported in nearby areas, including Lexington, South Carolina, where dashcam footage captured a bright streak across the sky. Scientists later confirmed the fragment as a meteorite, underscoring why tracking even non-hazardous objects remains important for understanding how Earth interacts with debris from the solar system.

NASA’s and ESA’s ongoing asteroid monitoring programs rely on networks of observers and observatories to alert the public when a large body could pose a risk, even if only briefly. The agencies note that more than 1.3 million asteroids are estimated to exist in the solar system, with over 30,000 categorized as near-Earth objects. The vast majority pose no threat, but continued surveillance helps scientists anticipate long-term changes in orbital paths and improve planetary defense strategies.

As Sept. 18 approaches, space agencies will continue to track 2025 FA22’s trajectory and refine calculations of its closest approach. Officials reiterate that the public should not expect ground disruptions, and any updates will be communicated through official channels as data becomes available. In the meantime, the scientific community views the passage as a rare window to study a large asteroid without the pressures of a potential impact scenario.