List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2019
Time of discovery of asteroids which came closer to Earth than the Moon in 2019 |
Below is the list of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2019.
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 (0.0025696 AU (384,410 km; 238,860 mi)) from Earth in 2019.[note 1] 2019 has been a notable year in that an asteroid was detected prior to impact (2019 MO). This has only happened three times previously (see List of successfully predicted asteroid impacts). In addition, for the first year ever, four close approaches of previously undiscovered asteroids were successfully predicted over a week in advance.
For reference, the radius of Earth is approximately 0.0000426 AU (6,370 km; 3,960 mi) or 0.0166 lunar distances.
Geosynchronous satellites have an orbit with semi-major axis length of 0.000282 AU (42,200 km; 26,200 mi) or 0.110 lunar distances. A number of known asteroids came closer than this in 2019, notably including 2019 MO which was detected a few hours before it impacted, only the fourth asteroid impact in history to have been successfully predicted in advance.
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 2019 was 2019 OK with an estimated diameter of around 95 meters and an absolute magnitude of 23.3. The fastest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2019 was 2019 FC1 that passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 25.9 km/s (58,000 mph).[1][note 2]
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 highlighted green indicate objects discovered more than one week before closest approach
Rows highlighted turquoise indicate objects discovered more than 7 weeks 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)
Date of closest approach | Date discovered | Object | Nominal geocentric distance (AU)[note 3] | Nominal geocentric distance (LD) | Size (m) (approximate) | (H) (abs. mag) | Closer approach to Moon | Refs[2][3] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019-01-08 | 2019-01-08 | 2019 AS5 | 0.000101 AU (15,100 km; 9,400 mi) | 0.039 | 0.7–2.5 | 32.3 | — | data · 2019 AS5 |
2019-01-12 | 2019-01-11 | 2019 AE9 | 0.000666 AU (99,600 km; 61,900 mi) | 0.26 | 8–25 | 27.2 | — | data · 2019 AE9 |
2019-01-12 | 2019-01-16 | P10LI6O | 0.0023 AU (340,000 km; 210,000 mi) | 0.90[note 4] | 3–18 | 28.6 | ? | Pseudo-MPEC CNEOS Distance (H) (T) |
2019-01-16 | 2019-01-17 | 2019 BO | 0.000460 AU (68,800 km; 42,800 mi) | 0.18 | 5–18 | 28.0 | — | data · 2019 BO |
2019-01-17 | 2019-01-16 | P10LGkb | 0.000225 AU (33,700 km; 20,900 mi) | 0.088[note 5] | 1–3 | 31.6 | — | Pseudo-MPEC CNEOS Distance (H) (T) |
2019-01-24 | 2019-01-25 | 2019 BV1 | 0.000904 AU (135,200 km; 84,000 mi) | 0.35 | 3–14 | 28.7 | — | data · 2019 BV1 |
2019-01-27 | 2019-01-28 | C04U1L2 | 0.0015 AU (220,000 km; 140,000 mi) | 0.60[note 6] | 2–12 | 29.4 | ? | Pseudo-MPEC CNEOS Distance (H) (T) |
2019-01-27 | 2019-01-28 | 2019 BZ3 | 0.000322 AU (48,200 km; 29,900 mi) | 0.13 | 4–12 | 28.7 | — | data · 2019 BZ3 |
2019-02-09 | 2019-02-09 | C03CZA1 | 0.00175 AU (262,000 km; 163,000 mi) | 0.68[note 7] | 9–30 | 26.9 | — | Pseudo-MPEC CNEOS Distance (H) (T) |
2019-02-11 | 2019-02-12 | 2019 CN5 | 0.000793 AU (118,600 km; 73,700 mi) | 0.31 | 6–19 | 27.8 | — | data · 2019 CN5 |
2019-02-26 | 2019-02-28 | 2019 DG2 | 0.00158 AU (236,000 km; 147,000 mi) | 0.61 | 4–14 | 28.5 | — | data · 2019 DG2 |
2019-02-26 | 2019-02-26 | 2019 DF | 0.00120 AU (180,000 km; 112,000 mi) | 0.47 | 2–8 | 29.7 | — | data · 2019 DF |
2019-03-01 | 2019-03-01 | 2019 EH1 | 0.000157 AU (23,500 km; 14,600 mi) | 0.061 | 2–6 | 30.1 | — | data · 2019 EH1 |
2019-03-04 | 2019-03-05 | C09Q4H2 | 0.000178 AU (26,600 km; 16,500 mi) | 0.069[note 8] | 1–3 | 31.9 | — | Pseudo-MPEC CNEOS Distance (T) |
2019-03-04 | 2019-03-04 | C04H931 | 0.0014 AU (210,000 km; 130,000 mi) | 0.54[note 9] | 5–19 | 28.0 | ? | Pseudo-MPEC CNEOS Distance (H) (T) |
2019-03-06 | 2019-03-07 | C0A1UN2 | 0.0000526 AU (7,870 km; 4,890 mi) | 0.020[note 10] | 0.4–1.3 | 33.5 | — | |
2019-03-13 | 2019-03-14 | 2019 EN2 | 0.00221 AU (331,000 km; 205,000 mi) | 0.86 | 6–21 | 27.6 | — | data · 2019 EN2 |
2019-03-22 | 2019-03-09 | 2019 EA2 | 0.00205 AU (307,000 km; 191,000 mi) | 0.80 | 14–44 | 25.9 | — | data · 2019 EA2 |
2019-03-23 | 2019-03-25 | 2019 FQ | 0.00220 AU (329,000 km; 205,000 mi) | 0.86 | 10–23 | 27.1 | — | data · 2019 FQ2 |
2019-03-28 | 2019-03-29 | 2019 FC1 | 0.00069 AU (103,000 km; 64,000 mi) | 0.27 | 20–45 | 25.6 | ? | data · 2019 FC1 |
2019-03-31 | 2019-03-29 | 2019 FV1 | 0.00223 AU (334,000 km; 207,000 mi) | 0.87 | 4.6–10 | 28.8 | ? | data · 2019 FV1 |
2019-03-31 | 2019-04-03 | 2019 GP21 | 0.00238 AU (356,000 km; 221,000 mi) | 0.93 | 3.0–6.6 | 29.8 | ? | data · 2019 GP21 |
2019-04-04 | 2020-02-15 | 2020 CD3 | 0.0000877 AU (13,120 km; 8,150 mi) | 0.034 | 1.9–3.5 | 31.7 | — | data · 2020 CD3 |
2019-04-06 | 2019-04-05 | A10cQ6k | 0.000989 AU (148,000 km; 91,900 mi) | 0.39[note 11] | 6.7–22 | 27.5 | — | |
2019-04-12 | 2019-04-09 | 2019 GN20 | 0.00253 AU (378,000 km; 235,000 mi) | 0.98 | 14–31 | 26.4 | ? | data · 2019 GN20 |
2019-04-18 | 2019-04-09 | 2019 GC6 | 0.00146 AU (218,000 km; 136,000 mi) | 0.57 | 13–30 | 26.5 | ? | data · 2019 GC6 |
2019-04-20 | 2019-04-21 | 2019 HE | 0.00150 AU (224,000 km; 139,000 mi) | 0.58 | 12–28 | 26.7 | ? | data · 2019 HE |
2019-04-30 | 2019-05-01 | 2019 JK | 0.00178 AU (266,000 km; 165,000 mi) | 0.69 | 6.7–15 | 28 | ? | data · 2019 JK |
2019-05-01 | 2019-05-01 | C093PF1 | 0.000588 AU (88,000 km; 54,700 mi) | 0.23[note 12] | 1.9–6.2 | 30.2 | — | |
2019-05-02 | 2019-05-03 | 2019 JX1 | 0.00120 AU (180,000 km; 112,000 mi) | 0.47 | 4.0–8.9 | 29.1 | ? | data · 2019 JX1 |
2019-05-03 | 2019-05-04 | C0M3DQ2 | 0.000879 AU (131,500 km; 81,700 mi) | 0.34[note 13] | 5.1–16 | 28.1 | — | |
2019-05-05 | 2019-05-06 | 2019 JY2 | 0.00098 AU (147,000 km; 91,000 mi) | 0.38 | 3.2–7.2 | 29.6 | ? | data · 2019 JY2 |
2019-05-16 | 2019-05-14 | 2019 JH7 | 0.00048 AU (72,000 km; 45,000 mi) | 0.19 | 3.1–7.0 | 29.6 | ? | data · 2019 JH7 |
2019-05-28 | 2019-05-26 | 2019 KT | 0.00217 AU (325,000 km; 202,000 mi) | 0.85 | 13–29 | 26.6 | ? | data · 2019 KT |
2019-06-06 | 2019-06-06 | 2019 LY4 | 0.00056 AU (84,000 km; 52,000 mi) | 0.22 | 7.3–16 | 27.8 | ? | data · 2019 LY4 |
2019-06-08 | 2019-06-02 | 2019 LW4 | 0.00166 AU (248,000 km; 154,000 mi) | 0.65 | 9.3–21 | 27.3 | ? | data · 2019 LW4 |
2019-06-22 | 2019-06-22 | 2019 MO | Impact | Impact | 3–10 | 29.3 | ? | data · 2019 MO · [4] · [5] |
2019-07-02 | 2019-07-04 | 2019 NK1 | 0.00177 AU (265,000 km; 165,000 mi) | 0.69 | 2.6–5.7 | 30.1 | ? | data · 2019 NK1 |
2019-07-09 | 2019-06-29 | 2019 MB4 | 0.00211 AU (316,000 km; 196,000 mi) | 0.82 | 16–35 | 26.2 | ? | data · 2019 MB4 |
2019-07-09 | 2019-07-09 | 2019 NF7 | 0.00253 AU (378,000 km; 235,000 mi) | 0.98 | 6.4–14 | 28.1 | ? | data · 2019 NF7 |
2019-07-10 | 2019-07-07 | 2019 NN3 | 0.00214 AU (320,000 km; 199,000 mi) | 0.83 | 29–66 | 24.8 | ? | data · 2019 NN3 |
2019-07-24 | 2019-07-21 | 2019 OD | 0.00239 AU (358,000 km; 222,000 mi) | 0.93 | 54–120 | 23.5 | ? | data · 2019 OD |
2019-07-25 | 2019-07-24[note 14] | 2019 OK | 0.00048 AU (72,000 km; 45,000 mi) | 0.19 | 59–130 | 23.3 | ? | data · 2019 OK |
2019-07-28 | 2019-07-27 | 2019 OD3 | 0.00126 AU (188,000 km; 117,000 mi) | 0.49 | 11–25 | 26.9 | ? | data · 2019 OD3 |
2019-07-29 | 2019-07-30 | 2019 ON3 | 0.00143 AU (214,000 km; 133,000 mi) | 0.56 | 7.4–16 | 27.8 | ? | data · 2019 ON3 |
2019-08-20 | 2019-08-22 | 2019 QB1 | 0.00083 AU (124,000 km; 77,000 mi) | 0.32 | 8.7–20 | 27.4 | ? | data · 2019 QB1 |
2019-08-20 | 2019-08-21 | 2019 QH2 | 0.00033 AU (49,000 km; 31,000 mi) | 0.13 | 2.2–5.0 | 30.4 | ? | data · 2019 QH2 |
2019-08-22 | 2019-08-21 | 2019 QD | 0.00200 AU (299,000 km; 186,000 mi) | 0.78 | 4.7–11 | 28.8 | ? | data · 2019 QD |
2019-08-26 | 2019-08-28 | 2019 QR8 | 0.00207 AU (310,000 km; 192,000 mi) | 0.80 | 6.6–15 | 28 | ? | data · 2019 QR8 |
2019-08-26 | 2019-08-27 | 2019 QQ3 | 0.00064 AU (96,000 km; 59,000 mi) | 0.25 | 3.7–8.2 | 29.3 | ? | data · 2019 QQ3 |
2019-09-02 | 2019-09-03 | 2019 RQ | 0.00074 AU (111,000 km; 69,000 mi) | 0.29 | 2.1–4.6 | 30.6 | ? | data · 2019 RQ |
2019-09-05 | 2019-09-06 | 2019 RP1 | 0.00025 AU (37,000 km; 23,000 mi) | 0.10 | 7.3–16 | 27.8 | ? | data · 2019 RP1 |
2019-09-07 | 2019-09-05 | 2019 RC1 | 0.00123 AU (184,000 km; 114,000 mi) | 0.48 | 4.6–10 | 28.8 | ? | data · 2019 RC1 |
2019-09-16 | 2019-09-19 | 2019 SJ | 0.00163 AU (244,000 km; 152,000 mi) | 0.64 | 8.3–19 | 27.5 | ? | data · 2019 SJ |
2019-09-21 | 2019-09-22 | 2019 SU2 | 0.00048 AU (72,000 km; 45,000 mi) | 0.19 | 2.6–5.8 | 30.1 | ? | data · 2019 SU2 |
2019-09-21 | 2019-09-20 | 2019 SD1 | 0.00187 AU (280,000 km; 174,000 mi) | 0.73 | 5.5–12 | 28.4 | ? | data · 2019 SD1 |
2019-09-21 | 2019-09-22 | 2019 SS2 | 0.00077 AU (115,000 km; 72,000 mi) | 0.30 | 2.0–4.4 | 30.7 | ? | data · 2019 SS2 |
2019-09-22 | 2019-09-25 | 2019 SS3 | 0.00188 AU (281,000 km; 175,000 mi) | 0.73 | 15–34 | 26.2 | ? | data · 2019 SS3 |
2019-09-28 | 2019-09-30 | 2019 SX8 | 0.00255 AU (381,000 km; 237,000 mi) | 0.99 | 4.3–9.7 | 28.9 | ? | data · 2019 SX8 |
2019-09-28 | 2019-10-01 | 2019 TE | 0.00238 AU (356,000 km; 221,000 mi) | 0.93 | 6.8–15 | 28 | ? | data · 2019 TE |
2019-09-29 | 2019-10-01 | 2019 TD | 0.00087 AU (130,000 km; 81,000 mi) | 0.34 | 3.9–8.7 | 29.2 | ? | data · 2019 TD |
2019-10-01 | 2019-09-30 | 2019 SM8 | 0.00106 AU (159,000 km; 99,000 mi) | 0.41 | 3.8–8.6 | 29.2 | ? | data · 2019 SM8 |
2019-10-03 | 2019-09-22 | 2019 SP3 | 0.00249 AU (372,000 km; 231,000 mi) | 0.97 | 14–31 | 26.4 | ? | data · 2019 SP3 |
2019-10-05 | 2019-10-06 | 2019 TN5 | 0.00083 AU (124,000 km; 77,000 mi) | 0.32 | 5.5–12 | 28.4 | ? | data · 2019 TN5 |
2019-10-18 | 2019-10-19 | 2019 UU1 | 0.00151 AU (226,000 km; 140,000 mi) | 0.59 | 2.2–5.0 | 30.4 | ? | data · 2019 UU1 |
2019-10-18 | 2019-10-19 | 2019 UG | 0.00215 AU (322,000 km; 200,000 mi) | 0.84 | 6.3–14 | 28.1 | ? | data · 2019 UG |
2019-10-19 | 2019-10-22 | 2019 UL3 | 0.00199 AU (298,000 km; 185,000 mi) | 0.77 | 5.9–13 | 28.3 | ? | data · 2019 UL3 |
2019-10-23 | 2019-10-25 | 2019 UN8 | 0.00240 AU (359,000 km; 223,000 mi) | 0.93 | 3.1–6.9 | 29.7 | ? | data · 2019 UN8 |
2019-10-25 | 2019-10-26 | 2019 UO8 | 0.00105 AU (157,000 km; 98,000 mi) | 0.41 | 3.7–8.3 | 29.3 | ? | data · 2019 UO8 |
2019-10-26 | 2019-10-29 | 2019 UX12 | 0.00255 AU (381,000 km; 237,000 mi) | 0.99 | 4.8–11 | 28.7 | ? | data · 2019 UX12 |
2019-10-27 | 2019-10-28 | 2019 UD10 | 0.00112 AU (168,000 km; 104,000 mi) | 0.44 | 6.3–14 | 28.1 | ? | data · 2019 UD10 |
2019-10-29 | 2019-10-26 | 2019 UB8 (AKA 2019 US8) | 0.00127 AU (190,000 km; 118,000 mi) | 0.50 | 4.3–9.7 | 28.9 | ? | data · 2019 UB8 |
2019-10-31 | 2019-10-31 | 2019 UN13 | 0.0000843 AU (12,610 km; 7,840 mi) | 0.03 | 1.0–2.2 | 32.1 | ? | data · 2019 UN13 |
2019-11-01 | 2019-10-29 | 2019 UG11 | 0.00140 AU (209,000 km; 130,000 mi) | 0.55 | 12–28 | 26.7 | ? | data · 2019 UG11 |
2019-11-02 | 2019-11-01 | 2019 VA | 0.00071 AU (106,000 km; 66,000 mi) | 0.28 | 5.8–13 | 28.3 | ? | data · 2019 VA |
2019-11-04 | 2019-11-01 | 2019 VD | 0.00117 AU (175,000 km; 109,000 mi) | 0.45 | 8.7–20 | 27.4 | ? | data · 2019 VD |
2019-11-04 | 2019-11-03 | 2019 VR | 0.00091 AU (136,000 km; 85,000 mi) | 0.35 | 6.4–14 | 28.1 | ? | data · 2019 VR |
2019-11-06 | 2019-11-06 | 2019 VS4 | 0.00093 AU (139,000 km; 86,000 mi) | 0.36 | 9.2–21 | 27.3 | ? | data · 2019 VS4 |
2019-11-09 | 2019-11-08 | 2019 VB5 | 0.00097 AU (145,000 km; 90,000 mi) | 0.38 | 1.2–2.7 | 31.7 | ? | data · 2019 VB5 |
2019-11-09 | 2019-11-05 | 2019 VF5 | 0.00127 AU (190,000 km; 118,000 mi) | 0.49 | 8.1–18 | 27.6 | ? | data · 2019 VF5 |
2019-11-19 | 2019-11-18 | 2019 WH | 0.00057 AU (85,000 km; 53,000 mi) | 0.22 | 15–35 | 26.2 | ? | data · 2019 WH |
2019-11-19 | 2019-11-24 | 2019 WV1 | 0.00185 AU (277,000 km; 172,000 mi) | 0.72 | 6.2–14 | 28.2 | ? | data · 2019 WV1 |
2019-11-23 | 2019-11-24 | 2019 WG2 | 0.00121 AU (181,000 km; 112,000 mi) | 0.47 | 27–60 | 25 | ? | data · 2019 WG2 |
2019-11-30 | 2019-11-29 | 2019 WJ4 | 0.00219 AU (328,000 km; 204,000 mi) | 0.85 | 5.5–12 | 28.4 | ? | data · 2019 WJ4 |
2019-12-18 | 2019-12-17 | 2019 YB | 0.00113 AU (169,000 km; 105,000 mi) | 0.44 | 3.1–7.0 | 29.7 | ? | data · 2019 YB |
2019-12-18 | 2019-12-19 | 2019 YS | 0.00044 AU (66,000 km; 41,000 mi) | 0.17 | 1.3–3.0 | 31.5 | ? | data · 2019 YS |
2019-12-23 | 2019-12-24 | 2019 YU2 | 0.00066 AU (99,000 km; 61,000 mi) | 0.26 | 8.9–20 | 27.4 | ? | data · 2019 YU2 |
2019-12-25 | 2019-12-30 | 2019 YV4 | 0.00251 AU (375,000 km; 233,000 mi) | 0.98 | 9.3–21 | 27.3 | ? | data · 2019 YV4 |
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)