Close Approach of 2020 FA5

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized, Apollo class NEO 2020 FA5, will make a close approach on 2025-Oct-26 02:21±2_01:36 UT at a distance of 0.04032 AU moving with V Relative=26.54 km/sec, H=21.1 magnitude, diameter 160 m - 350 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 55 day observation arc, the Condition Code=6 and the Earth MOID=0.009919 AU. The solution date was 2022-Oct-10 05:55:11 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2020-03-22. The observation arc was extended by 3 observations on 2020-02-19 by Palomar Mountain--ZTF. With the uncertainty in the close approach time, close approach could be between 0.00987 AU and 0.08373 AU. This NEO is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Oct 21 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.18 Visual Pro Predicts that 2020 FA5 will reach a peak brightness of 14.9 magnitude on the morning of October 28 with the NEO 0.03 AU distant traveling through Taurus at 56"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 October 26 at 2100 EDT (October 27 0100 UT) with the NEO 0.02 AU distant traveling through Monoceros at 15.5 magnitude and 103"/minute, but below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2020 FA5:     

Hopefully this object will be observed again befor the close approach and the orbit can be refined further.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

[PMSchu]

I looks like 2020 FA5 hasn't been recovered yet. CNEOS hasn't updated the time of close approach or recalculated the solution of the orbit.

Phil S.