Close Approach of 2025 XN4

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEA, 2025 XN4, will make a close approach on 2025-Dec-16 00:55±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00132 AU moving with V Relative=14.77 km/sec, H=27.3 magnitude, diameter 9.2 m - 21 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is currently a 3 day observation arc, the Condition Code=6 and the Earth MOID=0.00128864 AU. The solution date was 2025-Dec-15 05:24:09 PST. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2025-12-12. This approach is about as close as this NEA can get, but still at 0.52 lunar distances away (LD). It's too small to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) which requires an H<22 magnitude.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Dec 15 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.19 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 XN4 will reach a peak brightness of 14.8 magnitude on 2025 December 15 at 1800 EST (2300 UT) at 224.1k km distant traveling through Camelopardalis at 12.5"/second in twilight in Columbus, Ohio. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 December 15@2000 EST (December 16 0100UT) with 2025 XN4 predicted to be 15.4 magnitude traveling through Ursa Minor, 199.7k km distant at 15.6"/second.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 XN4:    

Since this NEA will pass very close-by, observers should follow the instructions in the 'Important Threads' post at the top of this forum section to download the orbital elements for their time of observation.

Good hunting,

Phil S.