Phaethon

No impact is predicted. Phaethon is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, which means its orbit brings it relatively close to Earth — but classification is about proximity, not an impending collision. Its trajectory is continuously refined as new observations are gathered, and predicted close approaches are calculated decades ahead. Its live position and orbit are shown above.

Phaethon is estimated at about 5.1 km across — comparable to a large city district. Size estimates are derived from how bright the asteroid appears and refined by radar and thermal measurements when it passes close to Earth.

Phaethon is Apollo (Earth-crossing) object. It orbits the Sun once every 1.43 years, on an elliptical path that reaches beyond Earth’s orbit and swings back toward the Sun. The interactive orbit diagram above shows where it is right now.

Yes — DESTINY+. A planned JAXA flyby will study why this asteroid sheds dust like a comet. Explore more spacecraft and missions.

Most of the time Phaethon is far too faint to see, but during a close approach it can brighten enough for amateur telescopes, and the largest near-Earth asteroids occasionally reach binocular range. Check the close-approach date above, then plan your night with our sky and space-weather tools.