Close Approach of 2025 BB2

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Apollo class NEO, 2025 BB2, will make a close approach on 2025-Feb-04 05:11±08:51 UT at a distance of 0.00195 AU moving with V Relative=6.53 km/sec, H=25.7 magnitude, diameter 20 m - 44 m and 'Rarity'=2. There is a 2 day observation arc, the Condition Code=9 and the Earth MOID=0.000316912 AU. The solution date was 2025-Jan-23 04:12:03 PST. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2025-01-21. This NEO is too small to make MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHA). The uncertainty of the orbit is still rather high so the predicted positions aren't very accurate.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Jan 23 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.14 Pro predicts that 2025 BB2 will reach a peak brightness of 14.2 magnitude on 2025 Feb 4 0100 EST when the NEO will be traveling through Antlia at 245.3"/minute. This is also the predicted time of close approach (to the nearest hour). The NEO should be visible in Lepus on the evening of February 2 at 15.9 magnitude and on February 4 in the early morning in Antlia at 14.3 magnitude. This object will be best from the southern hemisphere.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object:    

I'll provide an udate for this object after the orbit has been refined.

Phil S.

[PMSchu]

Here's the updated information for the recently discovered Apollo-class NEO, 2025 BB2. CNEOS predicts that 2025 BB2 will make a close approach on 2025-Feb-04 04:38±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00195 AU moving with V Relative=6.53 km/sec,  H=25.5 magnitude, diameter 21 m - 48 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of 2025 Jan 31 there is a 10 day observation arc, the Condition Code=6 and the Earth MOID=0.000752585 AU. The solution date was 2025-Jan-31 05:16:52 PST. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2025-01-21

Using MPC's elements downloaded for 2025 Jan 31 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.14 Pro predicts that 2025 BB2 will make a close approach, to the nearest hour, on 2025 Feb 4 0000 EST (0500 UT) traveling through Antlia at 14.1 magnitude and 250"/minute. Peak brightness of 14.0 magnitude is predicted on the evening of February 3 when the NEO will be traveling from Pixis, through Vela into Antlia at ~250"/minute, but too close to the horizon to be visible from Columbus, Ohio. This object will be best observed from the southern hemisphere.

Here's the updated Object Info dialog for 2025 BB2:    

Since this NEO will pass very close to earth, for the most accurate predictions, observers should download orbital elements from the HORIZONS website for a time close to their expected time of observing.

Phil S.