Asteroid passing by Earth tonight

Visible in a small telescope, or even binoculars from a dark site.

Photos and video of huge asteroid 1994 PC1. It passed Earth safely January 18


Star chart with constellations and labeled red tick marks around the asteroid.
Asteroid (7482) 1994 PC1 will be in the constellation Pisces on January 18, 2022, the night of closest approach to Earth. Illustration by Eddie Irizarry/ Stellarium.

How to see it with a telescope

Sky enthusiasts using a small telescope pointed at the correct time and location might be able to spot asteroid (7482) 1994 PC1. For North America, observers with backyard telescopes have the best opportunity to see the huge asteroid hours after the January 18 close approach (see charts below). You should be able to detect the space rock’s motion thanks to its size and proximity. When the asteroid is passing close to fixed background stars, the movement will be more noticeable.