This is a list of examples where an asteroid or meteoroid travels close to the Earth. Some are regarded as potentially hazardous objects if they are estimated to be large enough to cause regional devastation.
Near-Earth object detection technology began to improve around 1998, so objects being detected as of 2004 could have been missed only a decade earlier due to a lack of dedicated near-Earth astronomical surveys. As sky surveys improve, smaller and smaller asteroids are regularly being discovered. The small near-Earth asteroids 2008 TC3 , 2014 AA, 2018 LA, 2019 MO, 2022 EB5, 2022 WJ1, 2023 CX1 and 2024 BX1 are the only eight asteroids discovered before impacting into Earth (see asteroid impact prediction). Scientists estimate that several dozen asteroids in the 6–12 m (20–39 ft) size range fly by Earth at a distance closer than the moon every year, but only a fraction of these are actually detected. [1] [2] See also lists dedicated to specific years such as List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2023.
The average distance to the Moon (or lunar distance (LD)) is about 384,400 km (238,900 mi), which is around 30 times the diameter of the Earth. [3] Below are lists of close approaches less than one LD for a given year. (See also near-Earth asteroids and NEO Earth Close Approaches.)
Year(s) | Approaches | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000-2007 | 2 22 6 23 | 53 | |||||
2008 | 8 2 11 | 21 | |||||
2009 | 11 1 7 | 19 | |||||
2010 | 12 11 | 23 | |||||
2011 | 2 9 1 19 | 31 | |||||
2012 | 1 2 12 1 6 | 22 | |||||
2013 | 1 9 2 12 | 24 | |||||
2014 | 1 8 5 18 | 32 | |||||
2015 | 1 6 3 17 | 27 | |||||
2016 | 17 5 38 | 60 | |||||
2017 | 1 1 23 6 26 | 57 | |||||
2018 | 2 26 11 54 | 93 | |||||
2019 | 4 20 11 47 | 82 | |||||
2020 | 2 26 14 64 | 106 | |||||
2021 | 1 50 33 70 | 154 | |||||
2022 | 1 36 18 71 | 126 | |||||
2023 | 2 23 7 34 | 66 | |||||
Discovered > 1 year in advance Discovered > 7 weeks in advance Discovered > 1 week in advance Discovered up to 1 week in advance < 24 hours' warning < no warning |
From the list in the first section, these are the closest known asteroids per year that approach Earth within one lunar distance. More than one asteroid per year may be listed if its geocentric distance [note 1] is within a tenth of the lunar distance, or 0.10 LD. For comparison, since a satellite in a geostationary orbit has an altitude of about 36,000 km (22,000 mi), then its geocentric distance is 0.11 LD (approximately three times the width of the Earth).
The table shows that the years 2016 and 2017 had a total of 13 such close encounters that are known. Of these, eight were undetected until after they'd happened and only one was detected with more than 24 hours' notice. 2018 has fared better so far, with six out of the eight known close encounters being detected beforehand, albeit with less than 24 hours' notice in most cases.
This list does not include any of the hundreds of objects that collided with Earth which were not discovered in advance but were recorded by sensors designed to detect detonation of nuclear devices. Of the objects so detected, 78 had an impact energy greater than that of a 1-kiloton device (equivalent to 1,000 tons of TNT), including 11 which had an impact energy greater than that of a 10-kiloton device, i.e. comparable to the atomic bombs detonated on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the Second World War. [4]
Rows highlighted red indicate objects which were not discovered until after closest approach
Rows highlighted yellow indicate objects discovered less than 24 hours before closest approach
Rows left white indicate objects discovered 1–7 days before closest approach
Rows highlighted green indicate objects discovered more than one week before closest approach
Rows highlighted blue indicate objects discovered more than one year before closest approach, i.e. objects successfully cataloged on a previous orbit, rather than being detected during final approach.
Year | Date of closest approach | Date discovered | Object | Nominal geocentric distance (in 000's km) | Nominal geocentric distance (in LD) | Size of object (in meters) | (H) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2095 | 2095-09-06 | 2010-09-05 | 2010 RF12 | 39.1 | 0.10 | 7 | 28.4 | JPL · CAD |
2034 | 2034-05-06 | 2014-04-29 | 2014 HB177 | 88.9 | 0.23 | 6–14 | 28.1 | JPL · CAD |
2032 | 2032-08-14 | 2008-02-18 | 2008 DB | 125.0 | 0.32 | 19–43 | 25.7 | JPL · CAD |
2029 | 2029-04-13 | 2004-06-19 | 99942 Apophis | 38.0 | 0.10 | 310–340 | 19.7 | JPL · CAD |
2028 | 2028-06-26 | 2001-11-20 | (153814) 2001 WN5 | 248.7 | 0.65 | 610–1400 | 18.2 | JPL · CAD |
2023 | 2023-07-13 | 2023-07-15 | 2023 NT1 | 100 | 0.26 | 26–59 | 23.8 | JPL · CAD |
2022 | 2022-03-11 | 2022-03-11 | 2022 EB5 | 5.0 (Impact) | 0.0130 (Impact) | 1.3-3.0 | 31.4 | JPL · CAD |
2022-03-25 | 2022-03-25 | 2022 FD1 | 14.8 | 0.022 | 2-4 | 31 | JPL · CAD | |
2021 | 2021-02-09 | 2021-02-09 | 2021 CZ3 | 22.7 | 0.06 | 1.7–3.9 | 30.9 | JPL · CAD |
2020 | ||||||||
2020-11-13 | 2020-11-14 | 2020 VT4 | 9.3 | 0.02 | 4.8–11 | 28.7 | JPL · CAD | |
2020-09-24 | 2020-09-18 | 2020 SW | 28 | 0.07 | 4.3–9.7 | 28.9 | JPL · CAD | |
2020-08-16 | 2020-08-16 | 2020 QG | 9.3 | 0.02 | 2.9–6.4 | 29.8 | JPL · CAD | |
2020-05-04 | 2020-05-04 | 2020 JJ | 13.5 | 0.03 | 2.7–6 | 30 | JPL · CAD | |
2020-02-01 | 2020-02-01 | 2020 CW | 15.7 | 0.04 | 0.83–1.9 | 32.6 | JPL · CAD | |
2019 | 2019-10-31 | 2019-10-31 | 2019 UN13 | 12.6 | 0.033 | 1.0–2.2 | 32.1 | JPL · CAD |
2019-04-04 | 2020-02-15 | 2020 CD3 | 13.1 | 0.034 | 1.9–3.5 | 31.7 | JPL · CAD | |
2019-01-08 | 2018-01-08 | 2019 AS5 | 15.1 | 0.039 | 0.7–2.5 | 32.3 | JPL · CAD | |
2019-03-01 | 2019-03-01 | 2019 EH1 | 23.5 | 0.061 | 2–6 | 30.1 | JPL · CAD | |
2019-03-04 | 2019-03-05 | C09Q4H2 | 26.6 | 0.069 [note 2] | 1–3 | 31.9 | Pseudo-MPEC CNEOS Distance (T) | |
2019-01-17 | 2019-01-16 | P10LGkb | 33.7 | 0.088 [note 3] | 1–3 | 31.6 | Pseudo-MPEC CNEOS Distance (H) (T) | |
2019-09-05 | 2019-09-06 | 2019 RP1 | 37 | 0.10 | 7.3–16 | 27.8 | JPL · CAD | |
2018 | 2018-06-02 | 2018-06-02 | 2018 LA | 5.0 (Impact) | 0.0130 (Impact) | 2–4 | 30.5 | JPL · CAD |
2018-10-19 | 2018-10-19 | 2018 UA | 13.7 | 0.036 | 2–6 | 30.2 | JPL · CAD | |
2018-01-22 | 2018-01-22 (Unconfirmed) | A106fgF | 20? | 0.03? | 2–5 | 30.6 | — | |
2018-06-17 | 2018-06-17 (Unconfirmed) | A107j4p | 30.8 | 0.080 | 4–11 | 28.9 | — | |
2018-11-16 | 2018-11-17 | 2018 WG | 30.9 | 0.080 | 3–10 | 29.3 | JPL · CAD | |
2018-12-02 | 2018-11-29 | 2018 WV1 | 33.0 | 0.086 | 4 | 30.2 | JPL · CAD | |
2018-08-10 | 2018-08-11 | 2018 PD20 | 33.5 | 0.087 | 7–22 | 27.4 | JPL · CAD | |
2018-01-18 | 2018-01-18 | 2018 BD | 39.2 | 0.10 | 2–6 | 30.2 | JPL · CAD | |
2017 | 2017-04-04 | 2017-04-03 | 2017 GM | 16.3 | 0.042 | 2–7 | 29.9 | JPL · CAD |
2017-10-20 | 2017-10-21 | 2017 UJ2 | 18.0 | 0.047 | 1–5 | 30.8 | JPL · CAD | |
2017-10-22 | 2017-10-30 (Unconfirmed) | YU95BEF | 19.4 | 0.051 | 5–15 | 28.2 | — | |
2017-03-02 | 2017-03-02 | 2017 EA | 20.9 | 0.054 | 1–5 | 30.7 | JPL · CAD | |
2017-11-26 | 2017-11-26 | 2017 WE30 | 30.1 | 0.078 | 1–3 | 31.8 | JPL · CAD | |
2017-11-14 | 2017-11-20 (Unconfirmed) | P10ELNY | 31.7 | 0.083 | 4–12 | 28.8 | — | |
2017-11-08 | 2017-11-16 (Unconfirmed) | A104Vqx | 33.2 | 0.086 | 4–14 | 28.4 | — | |
2016 | 2016-02-25 | 2016-02-26 | 2016 DY30 | 14.3 | 0.04 | 2–5 | 30.5 | JPL · CAD |
2016-09-11 | 2016-09-11 | 2016 RN41 | 23.7 | 0.06 | 1–5 | 31.0 | JPL · CAD | |
2016-01-12 | 2016-01-13 | 2016 AH164 | 26.7 | 0.07 | 3–7 | 29.6 | JPL · CAD | |
2016-03-11 | 2016-03-15 | 2016 EF195 [5] | 31.7 | 0.08 | 16–31 | 25.6 | JPL · CAD | |
2016-11-05 | 2016-11-14 (Unconfirmed) | XV88D4F | 36.7 | 0.09 | 2–7 | 30.0 [6] | — | |
2016-01-14 | 2016-01-14 | 2016 AN164 | 37.0 | 0.10 | 2–5 | 30.5 | JPL · CAD | |
2015 | 2015-09-22 | 2015-09-24 | 2015 SK7 | 26.6 | 0.07 | 3–14 | 28.9 | JPL · CAD |
2015-11-15 | 2015-11-14 | 2015 VY105 | 34.6 | 0.09 | 4–9 | 29.0 | JPL · CAD | |
2015-02-17 | 2015-02-18 | 2015 DD1 | 39.3 | 0.10 | 1–3 | 30.4 | JPL · CAD | |
2014 | 2014-01-02 | 2014-01-01 | 2014 AA | 0.45 [7] [8] (Impact) | 0.001 (Impact) | 2–4 | 30.9 | JPL · CAD |
2014-06-03 | 2014-06-02 | 2014 LY21 | 16.7 | 0.04 | 4–8 | 29.1 | JPL · CAD | |
2014-09-07 | 2014-09-01 | 2014 RC | 39.9 | 0.10 | 12–25 | 26.8 | JPL · CAD | |
2013 | 2013-12-23 | 2013-12-23 | 2013 YB | 27.3 | 0.07 | 3 | 31.4 | JPL · CAD |
2013-02-15 | 2012-02-23 | 367943 Duende | 34.1 | 0.09 | 30 | 24.0 | JPL · CAD | |
2012 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-05-28 | 2012 KT42 | 20.8 | 0.05 | 9 | 29.0 | JPL · CAD |
2011 | 2011-02-04 | 2011-02-04 | 2011 CQ1 [9] | 11.9 | 0.03 | 1 | 32.1 | JPL · CAD |
2011-06-27 | 2011-06-22 | 2011 MD | 18.7 | 0.05 | 14 | 28.0 | JPL · CAD | |
2011-02-06 | 2011-02-07 | 2011 CF22 | 40.2 | 0.10 | 2.4 | 30.9 | JPL · CAD | |
2010 | 2010-11-17 | 2010-11-16 | 2010 WA | 38.9 | 0.10 | 2–6 | 30.0 | JPL · CAD |
2009 | 2009-11-06 | 2009-11-06 | 2009 VA | 20.4 | 0.05 | 4–13 | 28.6 | JPL · CAD |
2008 | 2008-10-07 | 2008-10-06 | 2008 TC3 | 5.9 (Impact) | 0.0152 (Impact) | 4.1 | 30.4 | JPL · CAD |
2008-10-09 | 2008-10-09 | 2008 TS26 | 12.6 | 0.03 | 0.5-1.6 | 33.2 | JPL · CAD | |
2008-10-20 | 2008-10-21 | 2008 US | 32.9 | 0.09 | 1–4 | 31.4 | JPL · CAD | |
2007 | 2007-10-17 | 2007-10-21 | 2007 UN12 | 69.7 | 0.18 | 4–11 | 28.7 | JPL · CAD |
2006 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-02-22 | 2006 DD1 | 117.5 | 0.31 | 12–30 | 26.5 | JPL · CAD |
2005 | 2005-11-26 | 2005-11-25 | 2005 WN3 | 83.8 | 0.22 | 3–6 | 29.9 | JPL · CAD |
2004 | 2004-03-31 | 2004-03-31 | 2004 FU162 | 12.9 | 0.03 | 4–12 | 28.7 | JPL · CAD |
2003 | 2003-09-27 | 2003-09-28 | 2003 SQ222 | 84.2 | 0.22 | 2–6 | 30.1 | JPL · CAD |
2002 | 2002-12-11 | 2002-12-13 | 2002 XV90 | 117.7 | 0.31 | 19–47 | 25.5 | JPL · CAD |
2001 | 2001-01-15 | 2001-01-19 | 2001 BA16 | 79.0 | 0.21 | 15–38 | 26.0 | JPL · CAD |
1999 | 1999-03-12 | 2013 | 2013 EC20 | 315.4 | 0.82 | 3–12 | 29.0 | JPL · CAD |
1994 | 1994-12-09 | 1994-12-09 | 1994 XM1 | 105.5 | 0.27 | 5–16 | 28.2 | JPL · CAD |
1993 | 1993-05-20 | 1993-05-21 | 1993 KA2 | 149.2 | 0.39 | 3–11 | 29.0 | JPL · CAD |
1991 | 1991-01-18 | 1991-01-18 | 1991 BA | 168.2 | 0.44 | 4–13 | 28.6 | JPL · CAD |
1990 | 1990-09-19 | 2003 | 2003 SW130 | 213.9 | 0.56 | 3–10 | 29.1 | JPL · CAD |
1984 | 1984-01-10 | 2016 | 2016 TB57 | 294.8 | 0.77 | 13–43 | 26.0 | JPL · CAD |
1982 | 1982-11-04 | 2012 | 2012 TY52 | 314.4 | 0.82 | 111–358 | 21.2 | JPL · CAD |
1979 | 1979-09-02 | 2014 | 2014 WX202 | 334.3 | 0.87 | 3–8 | 29.6 | JPL · CAD |
1976 | 1976-10-17 | 2013 | 2013 UG1 | 328.1 | 0.85 | 70–226 | 22.4 | JPL · CAD |
1971 | 1971-04-11 | 2002 | 2002 JE9 | 237.0 | 0.62 | 122–393 | 21.2 | JPL · CAD |
1965 | 1965-10-27 | 2005 | 2005 VL1 | 289.2 | 0.75 | 10–33 | 26.6 | JPL · CAD |
1959 | 1959-01-27 | 2012 | 2012 BX34 | 203.4 | 0.53 | 6–21 | 27.6 | JPL · CAD |
1957 | 1957-12-10 | 2010 | 2010 XW58 | 60.8 | 0.16 | 22–71 | 24.9 | JPL · CAD |
1955 | 1955-06-19 | 2015 | 2015 LR21 | 225.6 | 0.59 | 11–34 | 26.5 | JPL · CAD |
1954 | 1954-03-13 | 2013 | 2013 RZ53 | 102.7 | 0.27 | 1–4 | 31.1 | JPL · CAD |
1949 | 1949-01-01 | 2003 | 2003 YS70 | 259.6 | 0.68 | 3–10 | 29.1 | JPL · CAD |
1938 | 1938-11-02 | 2018 | 2018 RW | 105.0 | 0.27 | 2-5 | 30.3 | JPL · CAD |
1936 | 1936-01-06 | 2010 | 2010 VB1 | 212.6 | 0.55 | 61–140 | 23.2 | JPL · CAD |
1935 | 1935-03-08 | 2015 | 2015 DD54 | 182.8 | 0.48 | 18–57 | 25.4 | JPL · CAD |
1925 | 1925-03-29 | 2012 | 2012 FT35 | 39.3 | 0.10 | 4-9 | 29.2 | JPL · CAD |
1922 | 1922-06-07 | 2017 | 2017 LD | 18.2 | 0.047 | 11 | 27.5 | JPL · CAD |
1918 | 1918-09-17 | 2011 | (458732) 2011 MD5 | 350.1 | 0.91 | 556–1795 | 17.9 | JPL · CAD |
1914 | 1914-12-31 | 1998 | (152680) 1998 KJ9 | 232.9 | 0.61 | 279–900 | 19.4 | JPL · CAD |
1910 | 1910-05-09 | 2007 | 2007 JB21 | 288.7 | 0.75 | 18–57 | 25.4 | JPL · CAD |
A notable case is the relatively large asteroid Duende, which was predicted nearly a year in advance, coincidentally approaching just a few hours after the unrelated Chelyabinsk meteor, which was unpredicted, but injured thousands of people when it impacted.
From the lists in the first section, these are the largest known asteroids per year that approach Earth within one LD. (More than one asteroid per year may be listed if its size is 100 m [330 ft] or more.) For comparison, the 1908 Tunguska event was caused by an object about 60–190 m (200–620 ft) in size, while the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor, which injured thousands of people and damaged buildings when it generated a large airburst over Russia, was estimated to be just 20 m (66 ft) across.
The table shows about 14 events in the decades 1900–2020 involving a body with an upper size estimate of 100 m (330 ft) or more making a close approach to Earth within one LD, with one (the Tunguska object) making impact.
Year | Date of closest approach | Object | Nominal geocentric distance (in 000s km) | Nominal geocentric distance (in LD) | Est. size (in m) | (H) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2029 | 2029-04-13 | 99942 Apophis | 38.0 | 0.10 | 310–340 | 19.7 | JPL · CAD |
2028 | 2028-06-26 | (153814) 2001 WN5 | 248.7 | 0.65 | 921–942 | 18.3 | JPL · CAD |
2019 | 2019-07-25 | 2019 OK | 78 | 0.2 | 57–130 | 23.3 | JPL · CAD |
2018 | 2018-01-03 | 2018 AH | 298 | 0.77 | 65–226 | 22.5 | JPL · CAD |
2018-05-15 | 2010 WC9 | 203 | 0.53 | 42-136 | 23.5 | JPL · CAD | |
2018-04-15 | 2018 GE3 | 193 | 0.50 | 48–110 | 23.6 | JPL · CAD | |
2017 | 2017-07-21 | 2017 QP1 | 63 | 0.16 | 31–91 | 24.3 | JPL · CAD |
2016 | 2016-03-21 | 2016 FN56 | 384 | 1.00 | 35–86 | 24.2 | JPL · CAD |
2015 | 2015-01-18 | 2015 BP513 | 240 | 0.62 | 12–27 | 26.7 | JPL · CAD |
2014 | 2014-03-05 | 2014 DX110 | 349 | 0.91 | 20–40 | 25.7 | JPL · CAD |
2013 | 2013-08-04 | 2013 PJ10 | 371 | 0.97 | 60 | 24.6 | JPL · CAD |
2012 | 2012-04-01 | 2012 EG5 | 230 | 0.60 | 60 | 24.3 | JPL · CAD |
2011 | 2011-11-08 | (308635) 2005 YU55 | 324 | 0.84 | 360 | 21.9 | JPL · CAD |
2011-12-03 | 2011 XC2 | 347 | 0.90 | 100 | 23.1 | JPL · CAD | |
2010 | 2010-11-02 | 2010 UJ7 | 286 | 0.74 | 20–49 | 25.4 | JPL · CAD |
2009 | 2009-03-02 | 2009 DD45 | 72 | 0.19 | 15–47 | 25.8 | JPL · CAD |
2008 | 2008-02-15 | 2008 CK70 | 371 | 0.97 | 22–71 | 24.9 | JPL · CAD |
2007 | 2007-01-18 | 2007 BD | 324 | 0.84 | 18–57 | 25.4 | JPL · CAD |
2006 | 2006-02-23 | 2006 DD1 | 117 | 0.31 | 11–34 | 26.5 | JPL · CAD |
2005 | 2005-12-05 | 2005 XA8 | 217 | 0.57 | 15–49 | 25.7 | JPL · CAD |
2004 | 2004-03-18 | 2004 FH | 49 | 0.13 | 15–49 | 25.7 | JPL · CAD |
2003 | 2003-12-06 | 2003 XJ7 | 148 | 0.39 | 11–36 | 26.4 | JPL · CAD |
2002 | 2002-06-14 | 2002 MN | 120 | 0.31 | 40–130 | 23.6 | JPL · CAD |
2001 | 2001-01-15 | 2001 BA16 | 306 | 0.80 | 13–43 | 26.0 | JPL · CAD |
1999 | 1999-08-12 | 2016 CD137 | 179 | 0.47 | 13–43 | 26.0 | JPL · CAD |
1994 | 1994-12-09 | 1994 XM1 | 105 | 0.27 | 5–16 | 28.2 | JPL · CAD |
1993 | 1993-05-20 | 1993 KA2 | 149 | 0.39 | 3–11 | 29.0 | JPL · CAD |
1991 | 1991-04-08 | 2012 UE34 | 322 | 0.84 | 46–149 | 23.3 | JPL · CAD |
1990 | 1990-09-19 | 2003 SW130 | 186 | 0.48 | 3–10 | 29.1 | JPL · CAD |
1988 | 1988-10-16 | 2010 UK | 322 | 0.84 | 9–30 | 26.8 | JPL · CAD |
1982 | 1982-11-04 | 2012 TY52 | 314 | 0.82 | 111-358 | 21.4 | JPL · CAD |
1980 | 1980-05-18 | 2009 WW7 | 74 | 0.19 | 4-11 | 28.9 | JPL · CAD |
1976 | 1976-10-17 | 2013 UG1 | 328.1 | 0.85 | 70–226 | 22.4 | JPL · CAD |
1971 | 1971-04-11 | 2002 JE9 | 237.0 | 0.62 | 122–393 | 21.2 | JPL · CAD |
1936 | 1936-01-06 | 2010 VB1 | 212.6 | 0.55 | 48–156 | 23.2 | JPL · CAD |
1925 | 1925-08-30 | (163132) 2002 CU11 | 347.0 | 0.90 | 443–467 | 18.5 | JPL · CAD |
1918 | 1918-09-17 | (458732) 2011 MD5 | 350.1 | 0.91 | 556–1795 | 17.9 | JPL · CAD |
1914 | 1914-12-31 | (152680) 1998 KJ9 | 232.9 | 0.61 | 279–900 | 19.4 | JPL · CAD |
The year 2011 was notable as two asteroids with size 100 m (330 ft) or more approached within one lunar distance.
The average near-Earth asteroid, such as 2019 VF5, passes Earth at 18 km/s. The average short-period comet passes Earth at 30 km/s, and the average long-period comet passes Earth at 53 km/s. [10] A retrograde parabolic Oort cloud comet (e=1, i=180°) could pass Earth at 72 km/s when 1 AU from the Sun.
Date of closest approach | Object | Earth distance (LD) | Sun distance (AU) | Velocity wrt Earth (km/s) | Velocity wrt Sun (km/s) | Approx. size (m) | (H) (abs. mag) | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-12-23 | 2022 YW6 | 0.55 | 0.983 | 29.8 | 38.1 | 4.8–11 | 28.7 | JPL Horizons |
2021-10-27 | 2021 UA7 | 0.33 | 0.994 | 27.7 | 37.0 | 4.7–11 | 28.8 | JPL Horizons |
2020-03-14 | 2020 FD2 | 0.85 | 0.995 | 33.4 | 38.6 | 19–43 | 25.7 | JPL Horizons |
2019-03-28 | 2019 FC1 | 0.27 | 0.998 | 25.9 | 37.1 | 20–45 | 25.6 | JPL Horizons |
2018-04-15 | 2018 GE3 | 0.50 | 1.003 | 29.6 | 35.9 | 46–100 | 23.8 | JPL Horizons |
2017-08-14 | 2017 QP1 | 0.16 | 1.013 | 24.0 | 33.4 | 37–83 | 24.3 | JPL Horizons |
2016-03-08 | 2016 EV28 | 0.40 | 0.993 | 25.6 | 36.6 | 5.3–12 | 28.5 | JPL Horizons |
2015-03-12 | 2015 EO6 | 0.29 | 0.994 | 23.8 | 37.5 | 2.4–5.4 | 30.2 | JPL Horizons |
Date of closest approach | Object | Earth distance (LD) | Sun distance (AU) | Velocity wrt Earth (km/s) | Velocity wrt Sun (km/s) | Approx. size (m) | (H) (abs. mag) | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007-03-25 | 2006 RH120 | 0.92 | 0.997 | 1.37 | 31.1 | 3.3–7.5 | 29.5 | JPL Horizons |
2018-10-26 | 2020 CD3 | 0.84 | 0.994 | 1.45 | 31.3 | 1.2–2.7 | 31.7 | JPL Horizons |
2014-12-07 | 2014 WX202 | 0.98 | 0.985 | 1.67 | 30.6 | 3.2–7.1 | 29.6 | JPL Horizons |
Objects with distances greater than 100 km (62 mi) are listed here, although there is no discrete beginning of space.
Asteroids smaller than about 50 m (160 ft). [11]
2020 QG—Closest asteroid flyby not to hit Earth, at 2,900 km (1,800 mi); closest approach on 16 August 2020. [12] [13]
Nominal geocentric distance (AU) | Nominal geocentric distance (km) | Size (m) (approximate) | Date of closest approach | Object | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.000079 | 11,900 | 1 | February 4, 2011 | 2011 CQ1 | JPL · CAD |
0.000084 | 12,500 | 1 | October 9, 2008 | 2008 TS26 | JPL · CAD |
0.000086 | 12,900 | 6 | March 31, 2004 | 2004 FU162 | JPL · CAD |
0.000088 | 13,100 | 1.9–3.5 | April 4, 2019 | 2020 CD3 | JPL · CAD |
0.000125 | 18,700 | 10 | June 27, 2011 | 2011 MD [14] | JPL · CAD |
0.000137 | 20,400 | 7 | November 6, 2009 | 2009 VA | JPL · CAD |
0.000139 | 20,800 | 4–10 | May 29, 2012 | 2012 KT42 | JPL · CAD |
0.000177 | 26,500 | 3–14 | September 22, 2015 | 2015 SK7 | JPL · CAD |
0.00018 | 27,000 | 3 | December 23, 2013 | 2013 YB | JPL · CAD |
0.000221 | 33,000 | 4 | December 2, 2018 | 2018 WV1 | JPL · CAD |
0.000227 | 33,900 | 5 | December 19, 2004 | 2004 YD5 | JPL · CAD |
0.000228 | 34,100 | 40×20 [15] | February 15, 2013 | 367943 Duende [16] | JPL · CAD |
0.000260 | 38,900 | 3 | November 17, 2010 | 2010 WA | JPL · CAD |
0.000262 | 39,300 | 1–3 | February 17, 2015 | 2015 DD1 | JPL · CAD |
0.000267 | 39,900 | 12–25 | September 7, 2014 | 2014 RC | JPL · CAD |
0.000269 | 40,200 | 2.4 | February 6, 2011 | 2011 CF22 | JPL · CAD |
0.000328 | 49,100 | 30 | March 18, 2004 | 2004 FH | JPL · CAD |
0.000346 | 51,800 | 5–10 | October 12, 2010 | 2010 TD54 | JPL · CAD |
0.000383 | 57,300 | 25 | May 28, 2012 | 2012 KP24 [17] | JPL · CAD |
0.000437 | 65,400 | 8 | January 27, 2012 | 2012 BX34 | JPL · CAD |
0.000482 | 72,100 | 9 | September 8, 2010 | 2010 RK53 | JPL · CAD |
0.000483 | 72,200 | 19 | March 2, 2009 | 2009 DD45 | JPL · CAD |
0.000484 | 72,400 | 2–7 | December 11, 2013 | 2013 XS21 | JPL · CAD |
0.000531 | 79,400 | 7 | September 8, 2010 | 2010 RF12 | JPL · CAD |
0.000564 | 84,300 | 5 | September 27, 2003 | 2003 SQ222 | JPL · CAD |
0.000568 | 85,000 | 15 | March 18, 2009 | 2009 FH | JPL · CAD |
0.000635 | 95,000 | 17 | October 12, 2012 | 2012 TC4 | JPL · CAD |
0.000704 | 105,400 | 10 | December 9, 1994 | 1994 XM1 [18] | JPL · CAD |
0.000856 | 128,000 | 2 | October 13, 2015 | 2015 TC25 | JPL · CAD |
0.000862 | 129,000 | 15–30 | January 13, 2010 | 2010 AL30 | JPL · CAD |
0.000998 | 149,200 | 7 | May 20, 1993 | 1993 KA2 [18] | JPL · CAD |
0.001124 | 168,200 | 6–10 | January 18, 1991 | 1991 BA | JPL · CAD |
0.001539 | 230,200 | 47 | April 1, 2012 | 2012 EG5 | JPL · CAD |
0.001655 | 247,600 | 12 | September 8, 2010 | 2010 RX30 | JPL · CAD |
0.002454 | 367,100 | 10–17 | March 4, 2013 | 2013 EC | JPL · CAD |
0.00257 | 384,400 | average distance to the Moon [3] | |||
0.002899 | 433,600 | 22 | April 9, 2010 | 2010 GA6 | JPL · CAD |
Asteroids larger than about 50 m (160 ft). [11] [19]
Nominal geocentric distance (AU) | Nominal geocentric distance (km) | Size (m) (approximate) | Date of closest approach | Object | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.000521 | 78,000 | 57–130 | July 25, 2019 | 2019 OK | JPL · CAD |
0.000802 | 120,000 | 73 | June 14, 2002 | 2002 MN | JPL · CAD |
0.00155* | 233,000 | 500 | December 31, 1914 | (152680) 1998 KJ9 | JPL · CAD |
0.00159* | 239,000 | 200 | April 11, 1971 | (612358) 2002 JE9 | JPL · CAD |
0.00210* | 314,000 | 200 | November 4, 1982 | 2012 TY52 | JPL · CAD |
0.002172 | 324,900 | 360 | November 8, 2011 | (308635) 2005 YU55 | JPL · CAD |
0.00219* | 328,000 | 150 | October 17, 1976 | 2013 UG1 | JPL · CAD |
0.0022** | 329,000 | 100 | April 8, 1991 | 2012 UE34 | JPL · CAD |
0.0023* | 340,000 | 730 | August 30, 1925 | (163132) 2002 CU11 | JPL · CAD |
0.0023 | 340,000 | 100 | December 3, 2011 | 2011 XC2 | JPL · CAD |
0.00257 | 384,400 | average distance to the Moon [3] | |||
<0.00266* | <398,000 | 100 | January 6, 1936 | 2010 VB1 | JPL · CAD |
0.002891 | 432,400 | 500 | July 3, 2006 | (612901) 2004 XP14 | JPL · CAD |
0.003704 | 554,200 | 250 | January 29, 2008 | 2007 TU24 | JPL · CAD |
0.004241* | 634,500 | 300 | April 26, 1942 | 69230 Hermes | JPL · CAD |
0.004572 | 684,000 | 300 | March 22, 1989 | 4581 Asclepius | JPL · CAD |
0.004950 | 740,500 | 300 | October 30, 1937 | 69230 Hermes | JPL · CAD |
0.0062* | 930,000 | 200 | December 27, 1976 | 2010 XC15 | JPL · CAD |
0.00836 | 1,251,000 | 325 | June 8, 2014 | 2014 HQ124 | JPL · CAD |
0.0093* | 1,390,000 | 5000 | August 27, 1969 | (192642) 1999 RD32 | JPL · CAD |
0.0124855 | 1,867,800 | 400 | December 16, 2001 | (33342) 1998 WT24 | JPL · CAD |
0.036415 | 5,447,600 | 1000 | June 14, 2012 | 2012 LZ1 | JPL · CAD |
0.043294 | 6,476,600 | 1600 | November 5, 2012 | (214869) 2007 PA8 [20] | JPL · CAD |
0.046332 | 6,900,000 | 5400 | December 12, 2012 | 4179 Toutatis [21] | JPL · CAD |
Asteroids with large uncertainty regions are not included.
* Asteroid approach did not occur during an observed apparition. Passage is calculated by integrating the equations of motion.
** Only the nominal (best-fit) orbit shows a passage this close. The uncertainty region is still somewhat large due to a short observation arc.
Incomplete list of asteroids larger than about 50 m (160 ft) predicted to pass close to Earth (see also asteroid impact prediction and Sentry (monitoring system)): [19] [22]
Nominal geocentric distance (AU) | Nominal geocentric distance (km) | Size (m) (estimated) | Date of closest approach | Object | JPL-Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.000256 | 38,300 | 325 | April 13, 2029 | 99942 Apophis | JPL · CAD |
0.000670 | 100,200 | 75–170 | October 19, 2129 | 2007 UW1 | JPL · CAD |
0.000721 | 107,800 | 50–120 | April 8, 2041 | 2012 UE34 | JPL · CAD |
0.001572 | 235,200 | 170–370 | January 2, 2101 | (456938) 2007 YV56 | JPL · CAD |
0.001585 | 237,000 | 360±40 | November 8, 2075 | (308635) 2005 YU55 | JPL · CAD |
0.001629 | 243,700 | 370–840 | December 1, 2140 | (153201) 2000 WO107 | JPL · CAD |
0.001635** | 244,600 | 190–420 | October 25, 2077 | (549948) 2011 WL2 | JPL · CAD |
0.001663 | 248,800 | 700–1500 | June 26, 2028 | (153814) 2001 WN5 | JPL · CAD |
0.001980 | 296,200 | 170–370 | January 22, 2148 | (85640) 1998 OX4 | JPL · CAD |
0.002222 | 332,500 | 190–250 | May 28, 2065 | 2005 WY55 | JPL · CAD |
0.002241 | 335,200 | 75–170 | March 23, 2146 | 2009 DO111 | JPL · CAD |
0.00257 | 384,400 | for comparison, this is the average distance to the Moon [3] |
A list of predicted NEO approaches at larger distances is maintained as a database by the NASA Near Earth Object Program. [23]
** Only the nominal (best-fit) orbit shows a passage this close. The uncertainty region is still somewhat large due to a short observation arc.
Objects which enter and then leave Earth's atmosphere, the so-called Earth-grazers, are a distinct phenomenon, inasmuch as entering the lower atmosphere can constitute an impact event rather than a close pass. Earth-grazer can also be short for a body that "grazes" the orbit of the Earth, in a different context.
Altitude (km) | Size (m) (approximate) | Mass (kg) (approximate) | Date of closest approach | Object | Note | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | mean sea level | |||||
8.8 | Mount Everest (height) | |||||
58 | 5 | 105–106 | August 10, 1972 | 1972 Great Daylight Fireball above the United States and Canada | First scientifically observed | [24] |
71.4 | 100 | March 29, 2006 | 2006 Earth-grazing Fireball above Japan | |||
98.7 | 44 | October 13, 1990 | 1990 Earth-grazing Fireball above Czechoslovakia and Poland | First captured from 2 distant locations, which enabled computing its orbit by geometrical methods | [26] | |
August 7, 2007 | 2007 Earth-grazing Fireball | Its pre-encounter orbit belonged to the rare Aten type | [27] | |||
100 | Kármán line |
![]() Animation of the 2015 TB145 (NEO) flyby, as seen from the center of the Earth, with hourly trace circles along the path of motion |
A near-Earth object (NEO) is any small Solar System body orbiting the Sun whose closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) is less than 1.3 times the Earth–Sun distance. This definition applies to the object's orbit around the Sun, rather than its current position, thus an object with such an orbit is considered an NEO even at times when it is far from making a close approach of Earth. If an NEO's orbit crosses the Earth's orbit, and the object is larger than 140 meters (460 ft) across, it is considered a potentially hazardous object (PHO). Most known PHOs and NEOs are asteroids, but about 0.35% are comets.
A potentially hazardous object (PHO) is a near-Earth object – either an asteroid or a comet – with an orbit that can make close approaches to the Earth and which is large enough to cause significant regional damage in the event of impact. They are conventionally defined as having a minimum orbit intersection distance with Earth of less than 0.05 astronomical units and an absolute magnitude of 22 or brighter, the latter of which roughly corresponds to a size larger than 140 meters. More than 99% of the known potentially hazardous objects are no impact threat over the next 100 years. As of September 2022, just 17 of the known potentially hazardous objects listed on the Sentry Risk Table could not be excluded as potential threats over the next hundred years. Over hundreds if not thousands of years though, the orbits of some "potentially hazardous" asteroids can evolve to live up to their namesake.
(308635) 2005 YU55, provisionally named 2005 YU55, is a potentially hazardous asteroid 360±40 meters in diameter, as measured after its Earth flyby. Previously it was estimated to be 310 meters or about 400 m (1,300 feet) in diameter. It was discovered on 28 December 2005 by Robert S. McMillan at Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak. On 8 November 2011 it passed 0.85 lunar distances (324,900 kilometers; 201,900 miles) from Earth.
2006 BL8 is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group, that flew by Earth on 26 July 2013 at about 9 lunar distances It is reported to be about 48 meters (157 ft) in diameter.
2012 TV is a near-Earth Apollo asteroid with an estimated diameter of 30 metres (98 ft). Its closest approach to the Earth was on October 7, 2012 with a distance of 0.0017 astronomical units. It also approached the Moon an hour earlier with a distance of 0.0028 astronomical units. With a short observation arc of 1.8 days, the asteroid is listed on the Sentry Risk Table and has a 1:500,000 chance of impacting Earth on April 2, 2081.
2013 TX68 is an Apollo asteroid and near-Earth object discovered on 6 October 2013 by the Catalina Sky Survey, during which it was near a close approach of 5.4 Lunar distances (LD) from the Earth. The asteroid only has a 10-day observation arc which makes long-term predictions of its position less certain. It was observed for three days as it approached Earth in the night sky starting with the sixth of October, 2013. Then it became unobservable by being between the Earth and the Sun, then not recovered due to its small size and dimness. Precovery images by Pan-STARRS from 29 September 2013 were announced on 11 February 2016 that extended the observation arc to 10 days. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 11 February 2016, so there is no risk of impact from this object for the next hundred years or more. The asteroid was last observed on 9 October 2013.
2018 GE3 is a sub-kilometer asteroid on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 48–110 meters (160–360 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 14 April 2018, by astronomers with the Catalina Sky Survey one day prior to its sub-lunar close encounter with Earth at 0.5 lunar distance. It is one of the largest known asteroids (possibly the largest) in observational history to ever pass that close to Earth (also see list).
(231937) 2001 FO32 is a near-Earth asteroid classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group. With an estimated diameter around 550 m (1,800 ft), it was discovered by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at Socorro, New Mexico on 23 March 2001. The asteroid safely passed by Earth on 21 March 2021 16:03 UTC from a closest approach distance of 0.0135 AU (2.02 million km; 1.25 million mi), or 5.25 lunar distances (LD). During the day before closest approach, 2001 FO32 reached a peak apparent magnitude of 11.7 and was visible to ground-based observers with telescope apertures of at least 20 cm (8 in). It is the largest and one of the fastest asteroids to approach Earth within 10 LD (3.8 million km; 2.4 million mi) in 2021.