List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2018 explained

Time of discovery of asteroids which came closer to Earth than the Moon in 2018
Other Years
Caption:Years
Below:2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Below is the list of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2018.

Timeline of known close approaches less than one lunar distance from Earth

A list of known near-Earth asteroid close approaches less than 1 lunar distance (0.0025696AU) from Earth in 2018.[1]

For reference, the radius of Earth is approximately 4.26E-05AU or 0.0166 lunar distances.
Geosynchronous satellites have an orbit with semi-major axis length of 0.000282AU or 0.110 lunar distances. Eight known asteroids (2018 BD, A106fgF, 2018 LA, A107j4q,, 2018 UA,, and) are confirmed to have passed within this distance, and poorly-observed asteroids ZB0A262,, ZGBE54F, A1080DC, ZW87F01, and ZW900BE may have also passed within this distance.While most asteroids on this list are confirmed, well-observed unconfirmed objects with a 50% or greater chance of passing within 1 LD of the Earth are included as well.

The largest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2018 was with an estimated diameter of around 137 meters and an absolute magnitude of 22.5. The fastest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2018 was that passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 29.6km/s.[2] [3]

width=100 Date of
closest
approach
Date
discovered
width=100 Objectwidth=205 data-sort-type="number"Nominal geocentric
distance (AU)[4]
data-sort-type="number"Nominal geocentric
distance (LD)
data-sort-type="number"Size (m)
(approximate)
(H)
(abs. mag)
Closer
approach
to Moon
width=120 Refs[5] [6]
2018-01-02 2018-01-04 2018 AH 0.00199abbr=onNaNabbr=on 0.77[7] 84–190 22.5
2018-01-15 2018-01-17 2018 BW 0.00112AU 0.43 align=center 6–14 align=center 28.1 align=center
2018-01-16 2018-01-17 0.000877AU align=center 0.34 align=center 3–8 align=center 29.5 align=center
2018-01-18 2018-01-18 2018 BD 0.000262AU align=center 0.10 align=center 2–6 align=center 30.1 align=center
2018-01-19 2018-01-20 0.00162AU align=center 0.63 align=center 17–38 align=center 26.0 align=center
2018-01-19 2018-01-17 2018 BC 0.00189AU align=center 0.73 align=center 3–9 align=center 29.4 align=center
2018-01-19 2018-01-18 2018 BX 0.00188AU align=center 0.73 align=center 4–9 align=center 29.1 align=center
2018-01-20 2018-01-24 0.00203AU align=center 0.79 align=center 5–13 align=center 28.3 align=center
2018-01-22 2018-01-22 A106fgF Potential Impact? 0.0011[8] align=center 2–5 align=center 30.6 Src
2018-01-24 2018-01-27 0.00242AU align=center 0.94 align=center 12–26 align=center 26.8 align=center
2018-01-25 2018-01-26 ZB0A262 0.000401AU 0.16[9] align=center 2–5 align=center 30.6 align=center Src
2018-02-04 2018-02-07 0.0023AU align=center 0.90 align=center 6–14 align=center 28.2 align=center
2018-02-06 2018-02-07 0.00065AU align=center 0.25 align=center 6–15 align=center 28.0 align=center
2018-02-06 2018-02-04 2018 CC 0.00126AU align=center 0.49 align=center 13–28 align=center 26.6 align=center
2018-02-09 2018-02-08 0.000467AU align=center 0.18 align=center 7–16 align=center 27.8 align=center
2018-02-09 2018-02-04 2018 CB 0.000466AU align=center 0.18 align=center 18–39 align=center 25.9 align=center
2018-02-16 2018-02-10 0.00237AU align=center 0.92 align=center 5–11 align=center 28.6 align=center
2018-02-21 2018-02-22 2018 DQ 0.00067AU align=center 0.26 align=center 4–9 align=center 29.1 align=center
2018-02-24 2018-02-26 0.00141AU align=center 0.55[10] align=center 5–12 align=center 28.4 align=center ?
2018-02-25 2018-02-23 2018 DU 0.0019AU align=center 0.74 align=center 5–13 align=center 28.3 align=center
2018-03-02 2018-02-26 0.000748AU align=center 0.29 align=center 5–12 align=center 28.4 align=center
2018-03-14 2018-03-12 0.00144AU align=center 0.56 align=center 13–28 align=center 26.6 align=center
2018-03-17 2018-03-19 0.00148AU align=center 0.58 align=center 2–6 align=center 30.1
2018-03-18 2018-03-21 0.000979AU align=center 0.38 align=center 9–22 align=center 27.2 align=center
2018-03-19 2018-03-20 0.00187AU align=center 0.73 align=center 5–11 align=center 28.6 align=center
2018-03-23 2018-03-21 0.00129AU align=center 0.50 align=center 8–18 align=center 27.6 align=center
2018-03-30 2018-03-28 0.001AU align=center 0.39 align=center 5–13 align=center 28.3 align=center
2018-04-07 2018-04-11 0.00177AU align=center 0.69 align=center 6–12 align=center 28.5 align=center
2018-04-10 2008-04-13 aka
0.00201AU align=center 0.78 align=center 8–18 align=center 27.6 align=center
2018-04-12 2018-04-13 ZGBE54F 0.000469AU align=center 0.18[11] align=center 2–7 align=center 30.0 align=center Src
2018-04-12 2018-04-11 0.00201AU align=center 0.78 align=center 3–8 align=center 29.4 align=center
2018-04-15 2018-04-14 0.00129AU align=center 0.50 align=center 46–100 align=center 23.8 align=center
2018-04-21 2018-04-23 0.00229AU align=center 0.89 align=center 18–41 align=center 25.8 align=center
2018-04-22 2018-04-21 2018 HV 0.00103AU align=center 0.40 align=center 4–10 align=center 28.9 align=center
2018-05-15 2010-11-30 0.00136AU align=center 0.53 align=center 51–110 align=center 23.6 align=center
2018-05-23 2018-05-22 0.000997AU align=center 0.39 align=center 3–7 align=center 29.7 align=center
2018-05-26 2018-05-24 0.002AU align=center 0.78 align=center 9–22 align=center 27.2 align=center
2018-06-02 2018-06-02 2018 LA 3.34E-05AU
(Impact)
align=center 0.0130
(Impact)
[12]
align=center 2–3 align=center 30.5 align=center
2018-06-15 2018-06-11 0.00221AU align=center 0.86 align=center 13–30 align=center 26.5 align=center
2018-06-16 2018-06-17 0.00139AU align=center 0.54 align=center 4–10 align=center 28.8 align=center
2018-06-17 2018-06-17 A107j4q 0.000206AU align=center 0.080[13] align=center 4–11 align=center 28.9 align=center Srcdiagram
2018-06-23 2018-06-24 A107pL2 0.000525AU align=center 0.20[14] align=center 3–9 align=center 29.5 align=center Src
2018-07-04 2018-07-05 ZN2E090 0.00132AU align=center 0.51[15] align=center 4–12 align=center 28.8 align=center Src
2018-07-07 2018-07-08 2018 NX 0.000783AU align=center 0.30 align=center 7–17 align=center 27.7 align=center
2018-07-08 2018-07-08 2018 NW 0.000833AU align=center 0.32 align=center 7–16 align=center 27.8 align=center
2018-08-10 2018-08-11 0.000224AU align=center 0.087 align=center 8–20 align=center 27.4 align=center
2018-08-12 2018-08-13 A1080DC 0.000284AU align=center 0.11[16] align=center 1–4 align=center 31.3 align=center Src
2018-08-21 2018-08-21 0.000592AU align=center 0.23 align=center 8–20 align=center 27.4 align=center
2018-09-03 2018-09-07 0.00243AU align=center 0.94 align=center 2–6 align=center 29.9 align=center
2018-09-05 2018-09-06 2018 RS 0.00071AU align=center 0.28 align=center 2–9 align=center 30.0 align=center
2018-09-06 2018-09-07 0.00255AU align=center 0.991 align=center 5–12 align=center 28.5 align=center
2018-09-07 2018-09-09 0.00112AU align=center 0.44 align=center 7–16 align=center 27.8 align=center
2018-09-08 2018-09-07 2018 RW 0.00114AU align=center 0.44 align=center 2–5 align=center 30.3 align=center
2018-09-09 2018-09-03 2018 RC 0.0015AU align=center 0.58 align=center 28–63 align=center 24.9 align=center
2018-09-12 2018-09-13 0.0012AU align=center 0.47 align=center 10–36 align=center 26.5 align=center
2018-09-12 2018-09-13 0.000331AU align=center 0.13 align=center 2–8 align=center 29.7 align=center
2018-09-15 2018-09-16 2018 SM 0.000285AU align=center 0.11 align=center 3–9 align=center 29.4 align=center
2018-09-16 2018-09-18 0.00131AU align=center 0.51 align=center 2–7 align=center 29.9 align=center
2018-09-18 2018-09-17 2018 SC 0.00179AU align=center 0.70 align=center 5–19 align=center 27.9 align=center
2018-09-25 2018-09-21 0.000587AU align=center 0.23 align=center 4–12 align=center 28.6 align=center
2018-09-30 2018-10-02 2018 TC 0.00204AU align=center 0.79 align=center 10–31 align=center 26.6 align=center
2018-10-06 2018-10-05 0.000682AU align=center 0.27 align=center 3–9 align=center 29.5 align=center
2018-10-06 2018-10-06 ZTF01Z9 0.0017AU align=center 0.66[17] align=center 4–12 align=center 28.8 align=center Src
2018-10-07 2018-10-05 2018 TV 0.0019AU align=center 0.74 align=center 4–13 align=center 28.6 align=center
2018-10-17 2018-10-18 2018 UL 0.00148AU align=center 0.57 align=center 3–11 align=center 29.1 align=center
2018-10-19 2018-10-19 9.14E-05AU align=center 0.036 align=center 2–6 align=center 30.2 align=center
2018-11-01 2018-11-01 0.000276AU align=center 0.11[18] align=center 2–5 align=center 30.6 align=center Temp. src
2018-11-02 2018-11-03 0.00101AU align=center 0.39 align=center 1–5 align=center 30.8 align=center
2018-11-05 2018-11-08 0.00123AU align=center 0.48 align=center 4–16 align=center 28.3 align=center
2018-11-06 2018-11-07 0.000942AU align=center 0.37 align=center 9–33 align=center 26.7 align=center
2018-11-10 2018-11-04 aka
0.00255AU align=center 0.994 align=center 6–22 align=center 27.5 align=center
2018-11-11 2018-11-11 0.00103AU align=center 0.40 align=center 3–10 align=center 29.1 align=center Temp. src
2018-11-13 2018-11-10 0.00224AU align=center 0.87 align=center 7–23 align=center 27.4 align=center
2018-11-13 2018-11-16 0.00168AU align=center 0.65 align=center 2–7 align=center 30.0 align=center
2018-11-14 2018-11-15 0.00133AU align=center 0.52 align=center 4–12 align=center 28.6 align=center
2018-11-15 2018-11-17 ZW84BCD 0.000845AU align=center 0.33[19] align=center 2–7 align=center 30.0 align=center Src
2018-11-16 2018-11-17 ZW87F01 0.000594AU align=center 0.23[20] align=center 1–2 align=center 32.3 align=center Src
2018-11-16 2018-11-17 2018 WH 0.00127AU align=center 0.50 align=center 2–8 align=center 29.8 align=center
2018-11-16 2018-11-17 2018 WG 0.000206AU align=center 0.080 align=center 3–10 align=center 29.3 align=center
2018-11-18 2018-11-17 2018 WE 0.0016AU align=center 0.62 align=center 4–16 align=center 28.3 align=center
2018-11-19 2018-11-17 2018 WJ 0.000794AU align=center 0.31 align=center 6–26 align=center 27.5 align=center
2018-11-25 2018-11-26 0.000715AU align=center 0.28 align=center 12–51 align=center 26.0 align=center
2018-11-27 2018-11-28 0.000729AU align=center 0.28 align=center 3–9 align=center 29.4 align=center
2018-11-28 2018-11-29 0.00216AU align=center 0.84 align=center 5–20 align=center 27.8 align=center
2018-11-28 2018-11-29 ZW900BE 0.000224AU align=center 0.087[21] align=center 1–4 align=center 31.2 align=center Src
2018-11-30 2018-11-29 0.00134AU align=center 0.52 align=center 2–7 align=center 30.1 align=center
2018-12-02 2018-11-29 0.000221AU align=center 0.086 align=center 2–6 align=center 30.2 align=center
2018-12-11 2018-12-13 0.00249AU align=center 0.97 align=center 3–11 29.1 align=center
2018-12-27 2018-12-28 0.000398AU align=center 0.15 align=center 3–10 29.3 align=center
2018-12-28 2018-12-29 0.00131AU 0.51 2–6 29.8 align=center
2018-12-28 2019-01-03 0.0011AU align=center 0.43 align=center 22–69 align=center 25.1 align=center
2018-12-30 2018-12-31 0.000725AU 0.28 2–7 29.8 align=center Temp. src

Warning Times by Size

This sub-section visualises the warning times of the close approaches listed in the above table, depending on the size of the asteroid. The sizes of the charts show the relative sizes of the asteroids to scale. For comparison, the approximate size of a person is also shown. This is based the absolute magnitude of each asteroid, an approximate measure of size based on brightness.

Abs Magnitude 30 and greater (size of a person for comparison)Abs Magnitude 29-30Absolute Magnitude 28-29Absolute Magnitude 27-28Absolute Magnitude 26-27Absolute Magnitude 25-26 Absolute Magnitude less than 25 (largest)

Notes

Timeline of close approaches less than one lunar distance from the Moon

The number of asteroids listed here are significantly less than those of asteroids that approach Earth for several reasons. Asteroids that approach Earth not only move faster, but are brighter and are easier to detect with modern surveys because:

These factors severely limit the amount of Moon-approaching asteroids, to a level many times lower than the asteroids detected passing as close to Earth.

width=100 Date of
closest
approach
width=100 Objectwidth=205 Nominal lunocentric
distance (AU)[22]
Nominal lunocentric
distance (LD)
data-sort-type="number"Size (m)
(approximate)
(H)
approach
distance
to Earth
(LD)
Refs
2018-01-15 2018 BW 0.00212abbr=onNaNabbr=on 0.82 5–17 28.1 0.43
2018-01-19 2018 BD 0.00123AU 0.48 2–6 30.2 0.10
2018-01-20 0.00186AU 0.72 5–15 28.3 0.79
2018-01-24 ZB0A262 0.00148AU 0.57[23] 2–5 30.6 0.16 Src
2018-02-03 2018 CT 0.00249AU 0.97 15–47 25.8 1.69
2018-02-06 0.00204AU 0.79 4–20 28.0 0.25
2018-02-24 0.00128AU align=center 0.50[24] align=center 4–14 align=center 28.4 align=center 0.55
2018-03-01 0.000893AU align=center 0.35 align=center 4–15 align=center 28.4 align=center 0.29
2018-03-14 0.00136AU align=center 0.53 align=center 10–34 align=center 26.5 align=center 0.56
2018-03-17 0.00187AU align=center 0.73 align=center 2–7 align=center 30.1 0.58
2018-03-17 0.00118AU align=center 0.46 align=center 8–27 align=center 27.1 align=center 0.38
2018-03-30 0.00157AU align=center 0.61 align=center 4–16 align=center 28.3 align=center 0.39
2018-04-13 0.00221AU align=center 0.86 align=center 3–9 align=center 29.4 align=center 0.78
2018-04-15 0.000876AU align=center 0.34 align=center 37–138 align=center 23.6 align=center 0.50
2018-05-23 0.00146AU align=center 0.57 align=center 3–8 align=center 29.7 align=center 0.39
2018-06-02 2018 LA 0.00208AU align=center 0.83 align=center 2–3 align=center 30.5 align=center Impact
2018-06-16 0.000527AU align=center 0.20 align=center 4–11 align=center 28.8 align=center 0.54
2018-06-17 A107j4p 0.00256AU align=center 0.995[25] align=center 4–11 align=center 28.9 align=center 0.080 Src
2018-06-23 A107pL2 0.00208AU align=center 0.81[26] align=center 3–9 align=center 29.5 align=center 0.20 Src
2018-07-02 2018 NH 0.00109AU align=center 0.43 align=center 24–88 align=center 24.6 align=center 1.13
2018-07-05 ZN2E090 0.00168AU align=center 0.65[27] align=center 4–12 align=center 28.8 align=center 0.51 Src
2018-07-07 2018 NX 0.00152AU align=center 0.59 align=center 7–18 align=center 27.7 align=center 0.30
2018-07-08 2018 NW 0.00165AU align=center 0.64 align=center 6–18 align=center 27.8 align=center 0.32
2018-07-24 0.000713AU align=center 0.28 align=center 8–21 align=center 27.4 align=center 1.14
2018-08-04 0.00182AU align=center 0.71 align=center 9–33 align=center 26.7 align=center 1.07
2018-08-10 0.00117AU align=center 0.46 align=center 7–22 align=center 27.4 align=center 0.087
2018-08-12 0.00178AU align=center 0.69 align=center 1–4 align=center 31.3 align=center 0.11
2018-08-15 0.00117AU align=center 0.45 align=center 6–17 align=center 27.9 align=center 1.32
2018-08-19 ZTF00VP 0.00149AU align=center 0.58[28] align=center 3–11 align=center 29.0 align=center 1.12 Src
2018-09-03 0.00254AU align=center 0.990 align=center 2–7 align=center 29.8 align=center 0.95
2018-09-05 2018 RS 0.0022AU align=center 0.85 align=center 2–12 align=center 29.5 align=center 0.28
2018-09-07 0.002AU align=center 0.78 align=center 6–19 align=center 27.8 align=center 0.44
2018-09-08 2018 RW 0.00256AU align=center 0.997 align=center 2–7 align=center 30.3 align=center 0.44
2018-09-10 2018 RC 0.00244AU align=center 0.95 align=center 23–87 align=center 24.6 align=center 0.58
2018-09-12 0.00134AU align=center 0.52 align=center 2-8 align=center 29.7 align=center 0.13
2018-09-15 2018 SM 0.00188AU align=center 0.73 align=center 3-9 align=center 29.4 align=center 0.11
2018-09-15 0.00229AU align=center 0.89 align=center 2–7 align=center 29.9 align=center 0.51
2018-09-19 0.00154AU align=center 0.60 align=center 14–50 align=center 25.8 align=center 1.37
2018-09-24 0.00193AU align=center 0.75 align=center 4-12 align=center 28.6 align=center 0.23
2018-10-06 0.000749AU align=center 0.29 align=center 3–9 align=center 29.5 align=center 0.27
2018-10-17 2018 UL 0.000992AU align=center 0.39 align=center 3–11 align=center 29.1 align=center 0.57
2018-10-19 0.00189AU align=center 0.74 align=center 2–6 align=center 30.2 align=center 0.036
2018-11-01 0.00215AU align=center 0.84 align=center 2–5 align=center 30.6 align=center 0.11 Temp. Src
2018-11-03 0.00131AU align=center 0.51 align=center 13–36 align=center 26.2 align=center 1.13
2018-11-04 2018 WS 0.00212AU align=center 0.89 align=center 11–34 align=center 26.5 align=center 1.74
2018-11-05 0.00247AU align=center 0.96 align=center 9–33 align=center 26.7 align=center 0.37
2018-11-06 ZV33FBC 0.00147AU align=center 0.57[29] align=center 9–28 align=center 26.9 align=center 0.57 Src
2018-11-14 0.00124AU align=center 0.48 align=center 4–12 align=center 28.6 align=center 0.52
2018-11-15 0.00243AU align=center 0.95 align=center 2–7 align=center 30.0 align=center 0.65
2018-11-15 ZW87F01 0.00195AU align=center 0.76[30] align=center 1–2 align=center 32.3 align=center 0.23 Src
2018-11-16 2018 WH 0.00215AU align=center 0.83 align=center 2–8 align=center 29.8 align=center 0.50
2018-11-18 2018 WE 0.00133AU align=center 0.52 align=center 4–16 align=center 28.3 align=center 0.62
2018-11-19 2018 WJ 0.00228AU align=center 0.89 align=center 6–26 align=center 27.5 align=center 0.31
2018-11-25 0.00142AU align=center 0.55 align=center 12–51 align=center 26.0 align=center 0.28
2018-11-25 ZTF01p2 0.00246AU align=center 0.96[31] align=center 10–31 align=center 26.7 align=center 1.47 Src
2018-11-25 0.00197AU align=center 0.77 align=center 4–14 align=center 28.5 align=center 1.18
2018-11-27 0.00225AU align=center 0.88 align=center 3–9 align=center 29.4 align=center 0.28
2018-11-28 ZW900BE 0.00255AU align=center 0.993[32] 1–4 align=center 31.2 align=center 0.087 Src
2018-12-05 0.00225AU align=center 0.88 align=center 2–6 align=center 30.2 align=center 0.086
2018-12-08 0.00176AU align=center 0.68 align=center 5–16 align=center 28.1 align=center 1.009
2018-12-11 0.00158AU align=center 0.61 align=center 3–11 29.1 align=center 0.97
2018-12-27 0.00131AU align=center 0.51 align=center 3–10 29.3 align=center 0.15
2018-12-30 0.000253AU 0.98 2–7 29.8 align=center 0.28 Temp. src

Notes

Additional examples

An example list of near-Earth asteroids that passed more than 1 lunar distance (384,400 km or 0.00256 AU) from Earth in 2018.

Objectdata-sort-type="number"Size
meters
data-sort-type="number"lunar
distances
DateRef
624 10.9 2018-02-04
3752 Camillo 2306 53.6 2018-02-20
271 3.76 2018-03-07
1981 Midas 3400 34.9 2018-03-21
46 1.70 2018-04-08
285 6.48 2018-05-09
359 9.50 2018-05-29
860 15.5 2018-06-21
2018 NL 32 1.42 2018-06-28
(4953) 1990 MU 2800 41.6 2018-11-29
62 4.09 2018-12-09
800 7.36 2018-12-22

Virtual Impactors

List of asteroids that are listed on the Sentry Risk Table because they have short observation arcs with poorly constrained orbits and have a chance of impacting Earth in 2018. Given a short observation arc, many different orbits fit the observed data. These objects could be millions if not billions of kilometers from Earth on the date of a low probability virtual impactor. For example, is expected to be 5AU from Earth in December 2018 around the time of the 3 virtual impactors.[33] 2010 GZ60 was removed from the sentry table in February 2018 after further observations were found by NEOWISE, ruling out any possible impacts.

Cumulatively among the asteroids listed below, there is a roughly 1 in 98,700 chance that any of the asteroids will impact Earth in 2018. Most of this comes from asteroid 2008 US which is only ~2 meters in diameter and had a 1 in 240,000 chance of impact on 18 April 2018.

Also included are asteroids discovered before impact (specifically, 2018 LA) and exceptionally massive fireballs with either an equivalent yield of more than 1 kiloton of TNT or an estimated size of more than 3 meters.

width=90 DateObjectEstimated
diameter
(meters)
Obs
arc

(days)
Impact
probability
(1 in)
Sigma from
best-fit orbit
[34]
Palermo
scale
JPL Horizons
nominal geocentric
distance (AU)
NEODyS
nominal geocentric
distance (AU)
2018-01-31[35] [36] 9 0.18 2,100,000,000 0.994 align="center"-7.87 1.1AU 0.23AU
2018-02-10[37] [38] 9 0.071 370,000,000 0.039 align="center"-8.38 1.3AU 1.1AU
2018-02-15 9 0.18 100,000,000 -2.100 align="center"-7.70 1.2AU 0.25AU
2018-02-15 9 0.18 140,000,000 -1.183 align="center"-7.82 1.2AU 0.25AU
2018-02-17 9 0.18 120,000,000 -0.465 align="center"-7.67 1.2AU 0.25AU
2018-02-24[39] [40] 9 0.043 110,000,000 0.948 align="center"-7.63 2.7AU 4.1AU
2018-02-25 9 0.071 2,000,000 -0.690 align="center"-6.26 1.3AU 1.2AU
2018-02-26[41] [42] 157 1.0 2,100,000,000 0.096 align="center"-5.47 2.4AU 2.4AU
2018-02-26[43] 9 0.12 290,000,000 -2.389 align="center"-8.34 0.95AU 2.8AU
2018-03-01[44] 4 0.040 1,100,000,000 0.697 align="center"-9.01 2.9AU 2.3AU
2018-03-09 9 0.071 1,700,000,000 1.232 align="center"-8.05 1.4AU 1.2AU
2018-03-10 9 0.071 1,100,000,000 0.806 align="center"-8.35 1.4AU 1.2AU
2018-03-11[45] 54 3.1 2,400,000 1.438 align="center"-3.72 1.6AU 2.1AU
2018-03-11 9 0.071 2,900,000 0.544 align="center"-6.01 1.4AU 1.2AU
2018-03-11[46] [47] 10 0.11 3,400,000 1.198 align="center"-6.09 2.7AU 3AU
2018-03-21[48] 22 0.97 2,000,000,000 3.436 align="center"-7.94 3.4AU 3.4AU
2018-03-22[49] 537 0.93 1,900,000,000 0.195 align="center"-4.68 3.8AU 2.4AU
2018-04-08[50] [51] 16 1.0 1,900,000,000 0.196 align="center"-8.19 3AU 3.4AU
2018-04-10[52] [53] 19 0.16 91,000,000 0.155 align="center"-6.86 0.63AU 0.6AU
2018-04-18[54] 2008 US 2 0.081 240,000 0.253 align="center"-6.56 1AU 1AU
2018-04-19[55] N/A (not discovered
before impact)
4 N/A 1 0.000 0 N/A
(impact)
N/A
(impact)
2018-04-24[56] 36 0.12 310,000,000 0.687 align="center"-6.63 3.8AU 3.8AU
2018-04-29 19 0.16 210,000,000 -0.099 align="center"-7.67 0.72AU 0.69AU
2018-04-30[57] 4 0.97 710,000 -1.705 align="center"-6.18 3.7AU 3.7AU
2018-05-04[58] 2008 LE 22 0.14 270,000,000 -0.137 align="center"-7.01 2.3AU 2.3AU
2018-05-08 9 0.043 210,000,000 1.159 align="center"-7.45 1.9AU 3AU
2018-05-17[59] [60] 49 0.083 480,000,000 1.108 align="center"-6.64 2.3AU 1.6AU
2018-06-02 3 0.16 1 0.000 >0 4E-05AU
(impact)
4E-05AU
(impact)
2018-06-03[61] [62] 5 0.045 910,000 -0.349 align="center"-5.67 1.1AU 1.3AU
2018-06-03 5 0.045 670,000 0.067 align="center"-6.10 1.1AU 1.3AU
2018-06-04 5 0.045 340,000,000 0.474 align="center"-9.17 1.1AU 1.3AU
2018-06-21 N/A (not discovered
before impact)
5 N/A 1 0.000 0 N/A
(impact)
N/A
(impact)
2018-06-22 157 1.0 500,000,000 -0.333 align="center"-5.62 1.9AU 1.9AU
2018-07-25 N/A (not discovered
before impact)
3 N/A 1 0.000 0 N/A
(impact)
N/A
(impact)
2018-08-12 16 1.0 310,000,000 -0.816 align="center"-7.79 1.8AU 1.6AU
2018-08-19[63] 499 1.8 560,000,000 0.768 align="center"-4.13 1.3AU 1.3AU
2018-08-30 10 0.11 6,200,000,000 2.277 align="center"-9.63 2.8AU 3.2AU
2018-09-07 10 0.11 170,000,000 1.084 align="center"-7.95 2.7AU 3.1AU
2018-09-10 10 0.11 91,000,000 0.297 align="center"-7.56 2.7AU 3.1AU
2018-09-11 10 0.11 120,000,000 -0.315 align="center"-7.56 2.7AU 3.1AU
2018-09-11 10 0.11 710,000,000 -1.258 align="center"-8.14 2.7AU 3.1AU
2018-09-12 10 0.11 220,000,000 -0.824 align="center"-7.72 2.7AU 3AU
2018-09-12 10 0.11 7,700,000,000 -2.041 align="center"-8.91 2.7AU 3AU
2018-09-12 10 0.11 1,800,000,000 -1.660 align="center"-8.39 2.7AU 3AU
2018-09-13[64] 31 1.0 1,400,000,000 -1.839 align="center"-7.55 1.3AU 1.4AU
2018-09-18[65] 23 3.0 1,100,000,000 1.918 align="center"-7.98 3AU 3AU
2018-09-19 157 1.0 770,000,000 -0.337 align="center"-5.87 2.3AU 2.3AU
2018-09-20[66] 31 0.60 14,000,000 0.453 align="center"-5.77 1.3AU 0.62AU
2018-09-25 N/A (not discovered
before impact)
4 N/A 1 0.000 0 N/A
(impact)
N/A
(impact)
2018-09-26 157 1.0 2,400,000,000 0.029 align="center"-6.09 2.4AU 2.4AU
2018-10-02[67] 37 0.97 53,000,000 0.328 align="center"-6.08 3.9AU 1.6AU
2018-10-22[68] 2 0.031 3,300,000,000 -0.299 align="center"-11.2 4.8AU 3.8AU
2018-10-27[69] [70] 14 0.96 2,100,000,000 -1.613 align="center"-8.25 1.2AU 1.7AU
2018-10-28 14 0.96 500,000,000 -0.177 align="center"-7.92 1.2AU 1.7AU
2018-10-30 14 0.96 8,300,000,000 1.972 align="center"-9.43 1.2AU 1.7AU
2018-11-01[71] 2008 VL 9 0.12 710,000,000 1.279 align="center"-8.27 4.5AU 4.5AU
2018-11-12 9 0.043 77,000,000 -0.297 align="center"-7.79 0.29AU 3.7AU
2018-11-12 9 0.043 770,000,000 -0.704 align="center"-8.26 0.29AU 3.7AU
2018-11-12[72] [73] 6 0.046 56,000,000 0.822 align="center"-8.27 0.44AU 0.43AU
2018-11-12 9 0.043 32,000,000 0.008 align="center"-7.61 0.29AU 3.7AU
2018-11-12 6 0.046 1,900,000,000 2.113 align="center"-9.46 0.44AU 0.43AU
2018-11-16 9 0.043 67,000,000 0.981 align="center"-7.60 0.28AU 3.7AU
2018-11-16 49 0.083 10,000,000,000 1.753 align="center"-7.73 3.4AU 0.19AU
2018-11-20 N/A (not discovered
before impact)
3 N/A 1 0.000 0 N/A
(impact)
N/A
(impact)
2018-11-29 49 0.083 1,300,000,000 0.856 align="center"-7.42 3.4AU 0.22AU
2018-12-11[74] 2010 XC 5 0.058 40,000,000 -0.250 align="center"-8.27 2.4AU 2.3AU
2018-12-13[75] [76] 51 1.9 2,000,000,000 0.455 align="center"-7.48 5.3AU 5.3AU
2018-12-14[77] 18 0.066 710,000,000 1.218 align="center"-7.87 2.9AU 3.4AU
2018-12-14[78] [79] 13 2.8 830,000,000 0.401 align="center"-7.75 3.1AU 3AU
2018-12-15 51 1.9 450,000,000 -0.856 align="center"-6.64 5.3AU 5.3AU
2018-12-16 13 2.8 230,000,000 0.147 align="center"-7.53 3.1AU 3AU
2018-12-17[80] [81] data-sort-value="2000" align="center"? (2000) data-sort-value="1.4" align="center"1.4 (1.3) data-sort-value="99999999999"N/A (91,000,000) data-sort-value="5.001"N/A (1.952) data-sort-value="-99" align="center"N/A (-2.43) data-sort-value="6.9"6.9AU Not listed
2018-12-18 13 2.8 91,000,000 -0.252 align="center"-7.51 3.1AU 3.1AU
2018-12-18[82] 231 1.4 1,000,000,000 -0.262 align="center"-5.14 3.4AU 2.2AU
2018-12-18 N/A (not discovered
before impact)
12 N/A 1 0.000 0 N/A
(impact)
N/A
(impact)
2018-12-20 51 1.9 3,400,000,000 -1.991 align="center"-7.29 5.3AU 5.2AU
2018-12-22 13 2.8 200,000,000 -1.085 align="center"-8.38 3.1AU 3.1AU
2018-12-23[83] 2013 YB 2 0.16 17,000,000 3.754 align="center"-9.06 2.3AU 2.3AU
2018-12-26 9 0.071 3,200,000,000 -0.855 align="center"-9.74 1.4AU 1.1AU
2018-12-29 19 0.16 2,800,000,000 0.411 align="center"-8.06 1.4AU 1.4AU
2018-12-30 19 0.16 6,200,000,000 0.502 align="center"-8.22 1.4AU 1.3AU

Notes

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. For a list of current Earth close approaches see NEO Earth Close Approaches
  2. Web site: JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2018 GE3). Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  3. passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 29.6 km/s and was approaching the Sun at 35.9 km/s.
  4. Distance from the center of Earth to the center of the object. See the NASA/JPL Solar System Dynamics Glossary: Geocentric. Earth has a radius of approximately 6,400 km.
  5. Web site: JPL Small-Body Database Browser . JPL Solar System Dynamics . NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  6. Web site: MPC Database . IAU Minor Planet Center . International Astronomical Union . 1 January 2021.
  7. Largest known asteroid to pass so close to Earth since in 1971.
  8. distance error: 0.0000107 AU, approach range: 0 to 0.0052 LD. Assuming the observations were not made in error, there was a (~9%) this asteroid hit the Earth (Impact path). However, there was no record of an impact reported, so if it did indeed impact Earth, it was likely in an uninhabited region or in the Pacific ocean. (The further west in the impact path, the larger the asteroid would be. If it hit west of Africa or in the Indian ocean, it would have been several meters across and have been recorded.) The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  9. distance error: 0.000305 AU, approach range: 0.037 to 0.27 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  10. AU, approach range: 0.018 to 1.157 LD. There is no chance that it impacted Earth, as the minimum distance (0.018 LD) is still roughly 410 kilometers above Earth's surface.
  11. distance error: 0.000347 AU, approach range: 0.047 to 0.32 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  12. 2018 LA was estimated to have an 82% chance of impacting Earth somewhere between the central Pacific ocean and Africa (Impact path). Several reports have come from South Africa and Botswana confirming that it did indeed impact in central Africa
  13. distance error: 0.00000608 AU, approach range: 0.078 to 0.082 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  14. distance error: 0.000184 AU, approach range: 0.13 to 0.28 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  15. distance error: 0.000296 AU, approach range: 0.40 to 0.63 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  16. distance error: 0.0000651 AU, approach range: 0.085 to 0.136 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  17. distance error: 0.000600 AU, approach range: 0.43 to 0.89 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  18. distance error: 0.0000181 AU, approach range: 0.100 to 0.115 LD.
  19. distance error: 0.0000114 AU, approach range: 0.325 to 0.333 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  20. distance error: 0.000583 AU, approach range: 0.017 to 0.46 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. There is no chance of impact as the asteroid was discovered after its closest approach.
  21. distance error: 0.000165 AU, approach range: 0.023 to 0.152 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  22. Distance from the center of the Moon to the center of the object. The Moon has a radius of approximately 1,740 km.
  23. distance error: 0.000633 AU, approach range: 0.33 to 0.82 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  24. AU. Approach range: 0.41 to 0.98 LD.
  25. distance error: 0.00000167 AU, approach range: 0.9942 to 0.9955 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  26. distance error: 0.000198 AU, approach range: 0.73 to 0.89 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  27. distance error: 0.000194 AU, approach range: 0.58 to 0.73 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  28. distance error: Unknown, Approach range: Unknown. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  29. distance error: 0.000390 AU, approach range: 0.42 to 0.72 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  30. distance error: 0.000506 AU, approach range: 0.56 to 0.95 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  31. distance error: 0.0000329 AU, approach range: 0.943 to 0.968 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  32. distance error: 0.0000552 AU, approach range: 0.972 to 1.015 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation.
  33. Web site: 2005TM173 Ephemerides for December 2018 .
  34. This is a measurement of how far off of the "best fit" orbit the asteroid would have to have for it to hit at this time. Further values from 0 mean that the measured positions of the asteroid used to calculate its orbit would need to be highly inaccurate for it to hit Earth. For reference, 1.0/-1.0=31.7% odds the observations would be this inaccurate, 2.0/-2.0=4.6% odds, 3.0/-3.0=0.27% odds.
  35. Web site: Sentry: 2011 CF66 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128122954/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2011%20CF66 . dead . 2018-01-28 . computed on 2017-04-07.
  36. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 38,900,000 (Palermo scale -7.16) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  37. Web site: Sentry: 2008 EL68 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128104929/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20EL68 . dead . 2018-01-28 . computed on 2017-04-09.
  38. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 1,200,000 (Palermo scale -5.81) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  39. Web site: Sentry: 2009 VZ39 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129014146/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2009%20VZ39 . dead . 2018-01-29 . computed on 2017-04-09.
  40. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 13,600,000 (Palermo scale -6.89) of impacting earth in 2018.
  41. Web site: Sentry: 2015 HV182 (archived) . https://archive.today/20170414004204/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2015%20HV182 . dead . computed on 2017-04-06 . 2020-03-22 . 2017-04-14 .
  42. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 239,000,000 (Palermo scale -5.10) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  43. Web site: Sentry: 2008 JD33 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129034403/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20JD33 . dead . computed on 2017-04-06 . 2021-02-06 . 2018-01-29 .
  44. Web site: Sentry: 2008 EK68 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129033950/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20EK68 . dead . computed on 2017-04-06 . 2021-02-06 . 2018-01-29 .
  45. Web site: Sentry: 2005 ED224 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128094156/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2005%20ED224 . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  46. Web site: Sentry: 2008 EM68 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128121025/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20EM68 . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  47. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 3,100,000 (Palermo scale -6.04) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  48. Web site: Sentry: 2014 OY391 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128111938/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2014%20OY391 . dead . computed on 2017-04-08 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  49. Web site: Sentry: 2014 MV67 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128092112/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2014%20MV67 . dead . computed on 2017-04-06 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  50. Web site: Sentry: 2014 HG196 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129032841/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2014%20HG196 . dead . computed on 2017-04-08 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-29 .
  51. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 268,000,000 (Palermo scale -7.64) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  52. Web site: Sentry: 2016 AZ193 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128114119/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2016%20AZ193 . dead . computed on 2017-04-06 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  53. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 61,300,000 (Palermo scale -6.76) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  54. Web site: Sentry: 2008 US (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128094851/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20US . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2021-02-06 . 2018-01-28 .
  55. Web site: CNEOS Fireball and Bolide Data.
  56. Web site: Sentry: 2008 UY91 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129021747/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20UY91 . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-29 .
  57. Web site: Sentry: 2014 HD198 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128115301/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2014%20HD198 . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  58. Web site: Sentry: 2008 LE (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129013838/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20LE . dead . 2018-01-29 . computed on 2017-04-07.
  59. Web site: Sentry: 2008 VS4 (archived) . https://archive.today/20171020164145/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20VS4 . dead . 2017-10-20 . computed on 2017-04-08.
  60. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 339,000,000 (Palermo scale -6.54) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  61. Web site: Sentry: 2014 LY21 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128120132/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2014%20LY21 . dead . 2018-01-28 . computed on 2017-04-08.
  62. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 384,000 (Palermo scale -5.53) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  63. Web site: Sentry: 2015 ME131 (archived) . https://archive.today/20170731190701/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2015%20ME131 . dead . 2017-07-31 . computed on 2017-04-08.
  64. Web site: Sentry: 2015 HW182 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129031647/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2015%20HW182 . dead . 2018-01-29 . computed on 2017-04-08.
  65. Web site: Sentry: 2015 HS182 (archived) . https://web.archive.org/web/20130819061317/http://por/ . dead . computed on 2017-04-08 . 2020-09-27 . 2013-08-19 .
  66. Web site: Sentry: 2009 FZ4 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129012319/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2009%20FZ4 . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-29 .
  67. Web site: Sentry: 2016 JO38 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129013547/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2016%20JO38 . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-29 .
  68. Web site: Sentry: 2008 UM1 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128095228/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20UM1 . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  69. Web site: Sentry: 2014 HR197 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128103800/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2014%20HR197 . dead . computed on 2017-04-09 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  70. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 385,000,000 (Palermo scale -7.74) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  71. Web site: Sentry: 2008 VL (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129022226/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2008%20VL . dead . computed on 2017-04-08 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-29 .
  72. Web site: Sentry: 2010 VP139 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129022526/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2010%20VP139 . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2021-02-06 . 2018-01-29 .
  73. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 54,000,000 (Palermo scale -8.24) of impacting earth in 2018.
  74. Web site: Sentry: 2010 XC (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128102724/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2010%20XC . dead . computed on 2017-04-07 . 2021-02-06 . 2018-01-28 .
  75. Web site: Sentry: 2005 TM173 (archived) . https://archive.today/20171020164535/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2005%20TM173 . dead . computed on 2017-04-08 . 2020-03-22 . 2017-10-20 .
  76. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 336,000,000 (Palermo scale -6.50) of impacting earth in 2018.
  77. Web site: Sentry: 2010 WW8 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128103213/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2010%20WW8 . dead . computed on 2017-04-09 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-28 .
  78. Web site: Sentry: 2014 JT79 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180129015908/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2014%20JT79 . dead . computed on 2017-04-06 . 2020-03-22 . 2018-01-29 .
  79. has a cumulative probability of 1 in 46,300,000 (Palermo scale -7.08) of impacting Earth in 2018.
  80. Web site: Sentry: 2010 GZ60 (archived) . https://archive.today/20171020164517/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2010%20GZ60 . dead . computed on 2017-04-18 . 2020-03-22 . 2017-10-20 .
  81. was ruled out as a potential impactor after another observation was found by NEOWISE, improving the orbit enough to determine that it is not a near-earth object
  82. Web site: Sentry: 2010 MY112 (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128102323/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2010%20MY112 . dead . 2018-01-28 . computed on 2017-04-08.
  83. Web site: Sentry: 2013 YB (archived) . https://archive.today/20180128093132/https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html%23?des=2013%20YB . dead . 2018-01-28 . computed on 2017-04-08.