2025-09-23, 05:30 PM
CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized Apollo class NEO, (152664) 1998 FW4, will make a close approach on 2025-Sep-29 18:59±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02575 AU moving with V Relative=18.61 km/sec, H=19.7 magnitude, diameter 310 m - 690 m and 'Rarity'=2. There is a 11521 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0150763 AU. The solution date was 2025-Sep-23 06:28:21 PDT. Discovered 1998-03-20 by LINEAR at Socorro, the observation arc was extended by 2 observations on 1998-03-09 by Palomar Mountain-DSS. This NEO is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. This is the closest approach by (152664) 1998 FW4 for the next 150 years although the predicted approach on 2029 Sep 30 will be 0.02614 AU distant.
Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2025 Sep 23 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11.18 Visual Pro predicts that (152664) 1998 FW4 will reach a peak brightness of 13.9 magnitude on 2025 September 28 at 0400 EDT (0800 UT) at a distance of 0.03 AU traveling through Andromeda at 43"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 September 29 at 1500 EDT (1900 UT) with the NEO at 14.5 magnitude traveling through Camelopardalis at 60"/minute, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. It's predicted to be brighter than 16 magnitude from September 19 (in Pisces) to September 30 (in Lynx). Tonight it's predicted to be shining in Pisces at 14.8 magnitude traveling at 9"/minute.
Here's the Object Info dialog for (152664) 1998 FW4:
Observers should follow the directions in the 'Important Threads' at the top of this forum section for instructions on downloading the most accurate orbital elements for their ephemeris calculations.
This is a well placed NEO for northern hemisphere observers that's also visible from the southern hemisphere for now. It won't get (887) Alinda-bright, but it should be very nice.
Good hunting,
Phil S.
Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2025 Sep 23 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11.18 Visual Pro predicts that (152664) 1998 FW4 will reach a peak brightness of 13.9 magnitude on 2025 September 28 at 0400 EDT (0800 UT) at a distance of 0.03 AU traveling through Andromeda at 43"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 September 29 at 1500 EDT (1900 UT) with the NEO at 14.5 magnitude traveling through Camelopardalis at 60"/minute, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. It's predicted to be brighter than 16 magnitude from September 19 (in Pisces) to September 30 (in Lynx). Tonight it's predicted to be shining in Pisces at 14.8 magnitude traveling at 9"/minute.
Here's the Object Info dialog for (152664) 1998 FW4:
Observers should follow the directions in the 'Important Threads' at the top of this forum section for instructions on downloading the most accurate orbital elements for their ephemeris calculations.
This is a well placed NEO for northern hemisphere observers that's also visible from the southern hemisphere for now. It won't get (887) Alinda-bright, but it should be very nice.
Good hunting,
Phil S.