List of asteroid close approaches to Earth
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 greatly improved about 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, 2014 AA, 2018 LA and 2019 MO are the only four asteroids discovered before impacting into Earth. Scientists estimate that several dozen asteroids in the size range fly by Earth at a distance closer than the moon every year, but only a fraction of these are actually detected.
Timeline of approaches within one lunar distance
The average distance to the Moon is about, which is around 30 times the diameter of the Earth. Below are lists of close approaches less than one LD for a given year.Closest known per year
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 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, then its geocentric distance is 0.11 LD.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, including 11 which had an impact energy greater than that of a 10-kiloton device i.e. comparable to the atomic bombs used in the Second World War.
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 | Nominal geocentric distance | Size of object | Ref | |
| 2095 | 2095-09-06 | 2010-09-05 | 39.1 | 0.10 | 7 | 28.4 | ||
| 2034 | 2034-05-06 | 2014-04-29 | 88.9 | 0.23 | 6–14 | 28.1 | ||
| 2032 | 2032-08-14 | 2008-02-18 | 125.0 | 0.32 | 19–43 | 25.7 | ||
| 2029 | 2029-04-13 | 2004-06-19 | 99942 Apophis | 38.0 | 0.10 | 310–340 | 19.7 | |
| 2028 | 2028-06-26 | 2001-11-20 | 248.7 | 0.65 | 610–1400 | 18.2 | ||
| 2020 | 2020-05-04 | 2020-05-04 | 13.5 | 0.03 | 2.7–6 | 30 | ||
| 2020 | 2020-02-01 | 2020-02-01 | 15.7 | 0.04 | 0.83–1.9 | 32.6 | ||
| 2019 | 2019-10-31 | 2019-10-31 | 12.6 | 0.033 | 1.0–2.2 | 32.1 | ||
| 2019 | 2019-04-04 | 2020-02-15 | 13.1 | 0.034 | 1.9–3.5 | 31.7 | ||
| 2019 | 2019-01-08 | 2018-01-08 | 15.1 | 0.039 | 0.7–2.5 | 32.3 | ||
| 2019 | 2019-03-01 | 2019-03-01 | 23.5 | 0.061 | 2–6 | 30.1 | ||
| 2019 | 2019-03-04 | 2019-03-05 | C09Q4H2 | 26.6 | 0.069 | 1–3 | 31.9 | |
| 2019 | 2019-01-17 | 2019-01-16 | P10LGkb | 33.7 | 0.088 | 1–3 | 31.6 | |
| 2019 | 2019-09-05 | 2019-09-06 | 37 | 0.10 | 7.3–16 | 27.8 | ||
| 2018 | 2018-06-02 | 2018-06-02 | ' | 5.0 ' | 0.0130 ' | 2–4 | 30.5 | |
| 2018 | 2018-10-19 | 2018-10-19 | 13.7 | 0.036 | 2–6 | 30.2 | ||
| 2018 | 2018-01-22 | 2018-01-22 | A106fgF | 20? | 0.03? | 2–5 | 30.6 | — |
| 2018 | 2018-06-17 | 2018-06-17 | A107j4p | 30.8 | 0.080 | 4–11 | 28.9 | — |
| 2018 | 2018-11-16 | 2018-11-17 | 30.9 | 0.080 | 3–10 | 29.3 | ||
| 2018 | 2018-12-02 | 2018-11-29 | 33.0 | 0.086 | 4 | 30.2 | ||
| 2018 | 2018-08-10 | 2018-08-11 | 33.5 | 0.087 | 7–22 | 27.4 | ||
| 2018 | 2018-01-18 | 2018-01-18 | 39.2 | 0.10 | 2–6 | 30.2 | ||
| 2017 | 2017-04-04 | 2017-04-03 | 16.3 | 0.042 | 2–7 | 29.9 | ||
| 2017 | 2017-10-20 | 2017-10-21 | 18.0 | 0.047 | 1–5 | 30.8 | ||
| 2017 | 2017-10-22 | 2017-10-30 | YU95BEF | 19.4 | 0.051 | 5–15 | 28.2 | — |
| 2017 | 2017-03-02 | 2017-03-02 | 20.9 | 0.054 | 1–5 | 30.7 | ||
| 2017 | 2017-11-26 | 2017-11-26 | 30.1 | 0.078 | 1–3 | 31.8 | ||
| 2017 | 2017-11-14 | 2017-11-20 | P10ELNY | 31.7 | 0.083 | 4–12 | 28.8 | — |
| 2017 | 2017-11-08 | 2017-11-16 | A104Vqx | 33.2 | 0.086 | 4–14 | 28.4 | — |
| 2016 | 2016-02-25 | 2016-02-26 | 14.3 | 0.04 | 2–5 | 30.5 | ||
| 2016 | 2016-09-11 | 2016-09-11 | 23.7 | 0.06 | 1–5 | 31.0 | ||
| 2016 | 2016-01-12 | 2016-01-13 | 26.7 | 0.07 | 3–7 | 29.6 | ||
| 2016 | 2016-03-11 | 2016-03-15 | 31.7 | 0.08 | 16–31 | 25.6 | ||
| 2016 | 2016-11-05 | 2016-11-14 | XV88D4F | 36.7 | 0.09 | 2–7 | 30.0 | — |
| 2016 | 2016-01-14 | 2016-01-14 | 37.0 | 0.10 | 2–5 | 30.5 | ||
| 2015 | 2015-09-22 | 2015-09-24 | 26.6 | 0.07 | 3–14 | 28.9 | ||
| 2015 | 2015-11-15 | 2015-11-14 | 34.6 | 0.09 | 4–9 | 29.0 | ||
| 2015 | 2015-02-17 | 2015-02-18 | 39.3 | 0.10 | 1–3 | 30.4 | ||
| 2014 | 2014-01-02 | 2014-01-01 | ' | 0.45 ' | 0.001 ' | 2–4 | 30.9 | |
| 2014 | 2014-06-03 | 2014-06-02 | 16.7 | 0.04 | 4–8 | 29.1 | ||
| 2014 | 2014-09-07 | 2014-09-01 | 39.9 | 0.10 | 12–25 | 26.8 | ||
| 2013 | 2013-12-23 | 2013-12-23 | 27.3 | 0.07 | 3 | 31.4 | ||
| 2013 | 2013-02-15 | 2012-02-23 | 367943 Duende | 34.1 | 0.09 | 30 | 24.0 | |
| 2012 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-05-28 | 20.8 | 0.05 | 9 | 29.0 | ||
| 2011 | 2011-02-04 | 2011-02-04 | 11.9 | 0.03 | 1 | 32.1 | ||
| 2011 | 2011-06-27 | 2011-06-22 | 18.7 | 0.05 | 14 | 28.0 | ||
| 2011 | 2011-02-06 | 2011-02-07 | 40.2 | 0.10 | 2.4 | 30.9 | ||
| 2010 | 2010-11-17 | 2010-11-16 | 38.9 | 0.10 | 2–6 | 30.0 | ||
| 2009 | 2009-11-06 | 2009-11-06 | 20.4 | 0.05 | 4–13 | 28.6 | ||
| 2008 | 2008-10-07 | 2008-10-06 | ' | 5.9 ' | 0.0152 | 4.1 | 30.4 | |
| 2008 | 2008-10-09 | 2008-10-09 | 12.6 | 0.03 | 0.5-1.6 | 33.2 | ||
| 2008 | 2008-10-20 | 2008-10-21 | 32.9 | 0.09 | 1–4 | 31.4 | ||
| 2007 | 2007-10-17 | 2007-10-21 | 69.7 | 0.18 | 4–11 | 28.7 | ||
| 2006 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-02-22 | 117.5 | 0.31 | 12–30 | 26.5 | ||
| 2005 | 2005-11-26 | 2005-11-25 | 83.8 | 0.22 | 3–6 | 29.9 | ||
| 2004 | 2004-03-31 | 2004-03-31 | 12.9 | 0.03 | 4–12 | 28.7 | ||
| 2003 | 2003-09-27 | 2003-09-28 | 84.2 | 0.22 | 2–6 | 30.1 | ||
| 2002 | 2002-12-11 | 2002-12-13 | 117.7 | 0.31 | 19–47 | 25.5 | ||
| 2001 | 2001-01-15 | 2001-01-19 | 79.0 | 0.21 | 15–38 | 26.0 | ||
| 1999 | 1999-03-12 | 2013 | 315.4 | 0.82 | 3–12 | 29.0 | ||
| 1994 | 1994-12-09 | 1994-12-09 | 105.5 | 0.27 | 5–16 | 28.2 | ||
| 1993 | 1993-05-20 | 1993-05-21 | 149.2 | 0.39 | 3–11 | 29.0 | ||
| 1991 | 1991-01-18 | 1991-01-18 | 168.2 | 0.44 | 4–13 | 28.6 | ||
| 1990 | 1990-09-19 | 2003 | 213.9 | 0.56 | 3–10 | 29.1 | ||
| 1984 | 1984-01-10 | 2016 | 294.8 | 0.77 | 13–43 | 26.0 | ||
| 1982 | 1982-11-04 | 2012 | 314.4 | 0.82 | 111–358 | 21.2 | ||
| 1979 | 1979-09-02 | 2014 | 334.3 | 0.87 | 3–8 | 29.6 | ||
| 1976 | 1976-10-17 | 2013 | 328.1 | 0.85 | 70–226 | 22.4 | ||
| 1971 | 1971-04-11 | 2002 | 237.0 | 0.62 | 122–393 | 21.2 | ||
| 1965 | 1965-10-27 | 2005 | 289.2 | 0.75 | 10–33 | 26.6 | ||
| 1959 | 1959-01-27 | 2012 | 203.4 | 0.53 | 6–21 | 27.6 | ||
| 1957 | 1957-12-10 | 2010 | 60.8 | 0.16 | 22–71 | 24.9 | ||
| 1955 | 1955-06-19 | 2015 | 225.6 | 0.59 | 11–34 | 26.5 | ||
| 1954 | 1954-03-13 | 2013 | 102.7 | 0.27 | 1–4 | 31.1 | ||
| 1949 | 1949-01-01 | 2003 | 259.6 | 0.68 | 3–10 | 29.1 | ||
| 1938 | 1938-11-02 | 2018 | 105.0 | 0.27 | 2-5 | 30.3 | ||
| 1936 | 1936-01-06 | 2010 | 212.6 | 0.55 | 61–140 | 23.2 | ||
| 1935 | 1935-03-08 | 2015 | 182.8 | 0.48 | 18–57 | 25.4 | ||
| 1925 | 1925-03-29 | 2012 | 39.3 | 0.10 | 4-9 | 29.2 | ||
| 1922 | 1922-06-07 | 2017 | 18.2 | 0.047 | 11 | 27.5 | ||
| 1918 | 1918-09-17 | 2011 | 350.1 | 0.91 | 556–1795 | 17.9 | ||
| 1914 | 1914-12-31 | 1998 | 232.9 | 0.61 | 279–900 | 19.4 | ||
| 1910 | 1910-05-09 | 2007 | 288.7 | 0.75 | 18–57 | 25.4 |
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.
Largest per year
From the lists in the first section, these are the largest-known asteroids per year that approach Earth within one LD. For comparison, the 1908 Tunguska event was caused by an object about in size, while the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor which injured thousands of people and buildings when it generated a large airburst over Russia was estimated to be just across.The table shows about 14 events in the 12 decades of 1900–2020 involving a body with an upper size estimate of or more making a close approach to Earth within one LD, with one making impact.
and the Moon on 8–9 Nov 2011
| Year | Date of closest approach | Object | Nominal geocentric distance | Nominal geocentric distance | Est. size | Ref | |
| 2029 | 2029-04-13 | 99942 Apophis | 38.0 | 0.10 | 19.7 | ||
| 2028 | 2028-06-26 | 248.7 | 0.65 | 18.3 | |||
| 2019 | 2019-07-25 | 78 | 0.2 | 23.3 | |||
| 2018 | 2018-01-03 | 298 | 0.77 | 22.5 | |||
| 2018 | 2018-05-15 | 203 | 0.53 | 23.5 | |||
| 2018 | 2018-04-15 | 193 | 0.50 | 23.6 | |||
| 2017 | 2017-07-21 | 63 | 0.16 | 24.3 | |||
| 2016 | 2016-03-21 | 384 | 1.00 | 24.2 | |||
| 2015 | 2015-01-18 | 240 | 0.62 | 26.7 | |||
| 2014 | 2014-03-05 | 349 | 0.91 | 25.7 | |||
| 2013 | 2013-08-04 | 371 | 0.97 | 24.6 | |||
| 2012 | 2012-04-01 | 230 | 0.60 | 24.3 | |||
| 2011 | 2011-11-08 | 324 | 0.84 | 21.9 | |||
| 2011 | 2011-12-03 | 347 | 0.90 | 23.1 | |||
| 2010 | 2010-11-02 | 286 | 0.74 | 25.4 | |||
| 2009 | 2009-03-02 | 72 | 0.19 | 25.8 | |||
| 2008 | 2008-02-15 | 371 | 0.97 | 24.9 | |||
| 2007 | 2007-01-18 | 324 | 0.84 | 25.4 | |||
| 2006 | 2006-02-23 | 117 | 0.31 | 26.5 | |||
| 2005 | 2005-12-05 | 217 | 0.57 | 25.7 | |||
| 2004 | 2004-03-18 | 49 | 0.13 | 25.7 | |||
| 2003 | 2003-12-06 | 148 | 0.39 | 26.4 | |||
| 2002 | 2002-06-14 | 120 | 0.31 | 23.6 | |||
| 2001 | 2001-01-15 | 306 | 0.80 | 26.0 | |||
| 1999 | 1999-08-12 | 179 | 0.47 | 26.0 | |||
| 1994 | 1994-12-09 | 105 | 0.27 | 28.2 | |||
| 1993 | 1993-05-20 | 149 | 0.39 | 29.0 | |||
| 1991 | 1991-04-08 | 322 | 0.84 | 23.3 | |||
| 1990 | 1990-09-19 | 186 | 0.48 | 29.1 | |||
| 1988 | 1988-10-16 | 322 | 0.84 | 26.8 | |||
| 1982 | 1982-11-04 | 314 | 0.82 | 21.4 | |||
| 1980 | 1980-05-18 | 74 | 0.19 | 28.9 | |||
| 1976 | 1976-10-17 | 328.1 | 0.85 | 22.4 | |||
| 1971 | 1971-04-11 | 237.0 | 0.62 | 21.2 | |||
| 1936 | 1936-01-06 | 212.6 | 0.55 | 23.2 | |||
| 1925 | 1925-08-30 | 347.0 | 0.90 | 18.5 | |||
| 1918 | 1918-09-17 | 350.1 | 0.91 | 17.9 | |||
| 1914 | 1914-12-31 | 232.9 | 0.61 | 19.4 |
The year 2011 was notable as two asteroids with size or more approached within one lunar distance.
Passed by outside of atmosphere
Objects with distances greater than are listed here, although there is no discrete beginning of space. The lists do not pretend to completeness.Objects < 50 meters
Asteroids smaller than about.Objects > 50 meters
Asteroids larger than about.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 orbit shows a passage this close. The uncertainty region is still somewhat large due to a short observation arc.
Predicted encounters
A list of predicted NEO approaches at larger distances is maintained as a database by the NASA Near Earth Object Program.
- * Only the nominal orbit shows a passage this close. The uncertainty region is still somewhat large due to a short observation arc.
Earth grazers