Close Approach of 2025 OW

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized NEO, 2025 OW, will make a close approach on 2025-Jul-28 19:42±00:17 UT at a distance of 0.00423 AU moving with V Relative=20.97 km/sec, H=23.6 magnitude, diameter 51 m - 110 m and 'Rarity'=2. The Condition Code=8 so the orbit still needs some refinement.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Jul 22 0000 UT, ST4.1.1.15 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 OW will reach a maximum brightness of 14.8 magnitude in Hercules on 2025 Jul 28 1000 EDT (1400 UT).

I'll post an update in a few days after the orbit's been further refined. Just wanted to provide a heads up.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

[PMSchu]

CNEOS has refined the orbit for 2025 OW. The close approach is predicted on 2025-Jul-28 19:44±00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00423 AU moving with V Relative=20.97 km/sec, H=23.5 magnitude, diameter 53 m - 120 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of July 25 there is a 20 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.00269141 AU. The solution date was 2025-Jul-25 06:25:36 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2025-07-21. The observation arc was extended by 4 observations at Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2025-07-04. This NEO is too small to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Jul 25 0000 UT, ST4.1.1.15 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 OW will reach a peak brightness of 14.7 magnitude around noon EDT (1600 UT) on July 28 when the NEO will be traveling through Hercules at >300"/minute in daylight on the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 July 28 at 1600 EDT (2000 UT) with the NEO traveling at 415"/minute and 15.4 magnitude in Bootes, but still in daylight in Columbus. Best visibility from Columbus occurs on the morning of July 28 when 2025 OW is predicted to be ~15 magnitude in Lyra.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 OW:    

Since this MP will pass very close by, observers should follow the instructions in the post at the top of this forum section to obtain the most up-to-date orbital elements for SkyTools' ephemeris predictions.

Good Hunting,

Phil S.