List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2019

Asteroids which came closer to Earth than the Moon in 2019 by time of discovery

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 () from Earth in 2019, based on the close approach database of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). 2019 was the first year ever when four close approaches of previously undiscovered asteroids were successfully predicted over a week in advance.

For reference, the radius of Earth is approximately or 0.0166 lunar distances.Geosynchronous satellites have an orbit with semi-major axis length of or 0.110 lunar distances. A number of known asteroids came closer than this in 2019.

The largest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2019 was 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 that passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of . passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 25.9 km/s and was moving away from the Sun at 37.1 km/s.

The CNEOS database of close approaches lists some close approaches a full orbit or more before the discovery of the object, derived by orbit calculation. The list below only includes close approaches that are evidenced by observations, thus the pre-discovery close approaches are only included if the object was found by precovery.

This list and relevant databases do not consider impacts as close approaches, thus this list does not include 2019 MO, an asteroid which was predicted to impact on Earth and burned up in its atmosphere, as well as several more objects that collided with Earth's atmosphere in 2019 which weren't discovered in advance, but were observed visually or recorded by sensors designed to detect detonation of nuclear devices.NASA.gov

Date ofclosestapproach Datediscovered Object Nominal geocentricdistance (AU)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.Nominal geocentricdistance (LD)Size (m)(approximate) (H)(abs. mag.) Closerapproachto Moon Refs 2019-01-08 2019-01-08 0.039 0.92–2.1 32.3 — 2019-01-12 2019-01-11 0.259 9.7–22 27.2 — 2019-01-16 2019-01-17 0.179 6.4–14 28.1 — 2019-01-16A perigee during the asteroid's capture as temporary satellite by Earth 2020-02-15Precovery around this close approach: 2019-01-17 & 2019-01-24 0.422 1.2–2.7 31.7 — 2019-01-24 2019-01-25 0.352 4.6–10 28.8 — 2019-01-27 2019-01-28 0.125 4.7–10 28.8 — 2019-02-11 2019-02-12 0.309 7–16 27.9 — 2019-02-26 2019-02-28 0.614 5.3–12 28.5 — 2019-02-26 2019-02-26 0.450 2.9–6.5 29.8 — 2019-03-01 2019-03-01 0.061 2.5–5.6 30.1 — 2019-03-13 2019-03-14 0.861 8–18 27.6 — 2019-03-16 2019-03-16 0.796 4.7–11 28.8 — 2019-03-22 2019-03-09 0.796 18–41 25.8 — 2019-03-23 2019-03-25 0.858 10–23 27.1 — 2019-03-28 2019-03-29 0.268 20–45 25.6 ? 2019-03-31 2019-03-29 0.869 4.4–9.9 28.9 ? 2019-03-31 2019-04-03 0.927 2.9–6.5 29.8 ? 2019-04-12 2019-04-09 0.983 13–30 26.5 ? 2019-04-18 2019-04-09 0.570 13–30 26.5 ? 2019-04-20 2019-04-21 0.582 12–27 26.7 ? 2019-04-30 2019-05-01 0.694 6.7–15 28.0 ? 2019-05-02 2019-05-03 0.467 4.0–9.0 29.1 ? 2019-05-05 2019-05-06 0.380 3.2–7.1 29.6 ? 2019-05-13 2019-05-13 0.885 8.6–19 27.4 ? 2019-05-16 2019-05-14 0.186 3.2–7.1 29.6 ? 2019-05-28 2019-05-26 0.846 13–28 26.6 ? 2019-06-05 2019-06-06 0.355 4.8–11 28.7 ? 2019-06-06 2019-06-06 0.218 7.3–16 27.8 ? 2019-06-08 2019-06-02 0.645 9.2–21 27.3 ? 2019-07-02 2019-07-04 0.690 2.8–6.2 29.9 ? 2019-07-09 2019-06-29 0.820 17–38 26.0 ? 2019-07-09 2019-07-09 0.984 6.4–14 28.1 ? 2019-07-10 2019-07-07 0.833 31–68 24.7 ? 2019-07-24 2019-07-21 0.931 56–120 23.4 ? 2019-07-25 2019-07-242019-07-04 is the official first observation date for this asteroid, credited to the SONEAR Observatory, Oliveira by the Minor Planet Center. However the object had been observed several times by other telescopes in the run up, but had not been recognised as an asteroid by their automated systems. See for more details 0.186 58–130 23.3 ? 2019-07-28 2019-07-27 0.489 11–25 26.9 ? 2019-07-29 2019-07-30 0.555 7.2–16 27.8 ? 2019-08-20 2019-08-22 0.322 8.4–19 27.5 ? 2019-08-20 2019-08-21 0.128 2.2–4.9 30.4 ? 2019-08-22 2019-08-21 0.780 4.6–10 28.8 ? 2019-08-26 2019-08-28 0.804 7.0–16 27.9 ? 2019-08-26 2019-08-27 0.248 3.7–8.2 29.3 ? 2019-09-02 2019-09-03 0.287 2.0–4.5 30.6 ? 2019-09-05 2019-09-06 0.099 7.0–16 27.9 ? 2019-09-07 2019-09-05 0.479 4.4–9.9 28.9 ? 2019-09-16 2019-09-19 0.636 8.0–18 27.6 ? 2019-09-21 2019-09-22 0.187 2.5–5.7 30.1 ? 2019-09-21 2019-09-20 0.728 5.3–12 28.5 ? 2019-09-21 2019-09-22 0.299 1.9–4.3 30.7 ? 2019-09-22 2019-09-25 0.731 15–34 26.2 ? 2019-09-28 2019-09-30 0.993 4.4–9.9 28.9 ? 2019-09-28 2019-10-01 0.927 6.7–15 28.0 ? 2019-09-29 2019-10-01 0.338 3.8–8.6 29.2 ? 2019-10-01 2019-09-30 0.414 3.8–8.6 29.2 ? 2019-10-03 2019-09-22 0.967 15–34 26.2 ? 2019-10-05 2019-10-06 0.322 5.8–13 28.3 ? 2019-10-18 2019-10-19 0.588 2.2–4.9 30.4 ? 2019-10-18 2019-10-19 0.838 6.4–14 28.1 ? 2019-10-19 2019-10-22 0.774 5.8–13 28.3 ? 2019-10-23 2019-10-25 0.938 3.1–6.8 29.7 ? 2019-10-25 2019-10-26 0.409 3.7–8.2 29.3 ? 2019-10-26 2019-10-29 0.995 4.8–11 28.7 ? 2019-10-27 2019-10-28 0.436 6.1–14 28.2 ? 2019-10-29 2019-10-26 (AKA ) 0.496 4.2–9.4 29.0 ? 2019-10-31 2019-10-31 0.033 1.0–2.4 32.0 ? 2019-11-01 2019-10-29 0.546 12–26 26.8 ? 2019-11-01 2019-11-04 0.613 3.1–6.9 29.7 ? 2019-11-02 2019-11-01 0.277 5.6–12 28.4 ? 2019-11-04 2019-11-01 0.453 8.8–20 27.4 ? 2019-11-04 2019-11-03 0.355 6.4–14 28.1 ? 2019-11-06 2019-11-06 0.362 9.2–21 27.3 ? 2019-11-09 2019-11-08 0.379 1.2–2.7 31.7 ? 2019-11-09 2019-11-05 0.495 8.4–19 27.5 ? 2019-11-19 2019-11-18 0.222 15–34 26.2 ? 2019-11-19 2019-11-24 0.721 6.7–15 28.0 ? 2019-11-23 2019-11-24 0.471 27–61 24.9 ? 2019-11-30 2019-11-29 0.853 5.6–12 28.4 ? 2019-12-18 2019-12-17 0.440 3.1–6.8 29.7 ? 2019-12-18 2019-12-19 0.170 1.3–3.0 31.5 ? 2019-12-23 2019-12-24 0.256 8.8–20 27.4 ? 2019-12-25 2019-12-30 0.977 9.2–21 27.3 ?

In addition to the confirmed asteroids on the above list, which feature in the CNEOS close approach database, there have been well-observed unconfirmed or confirmed but poorly observed objects with a 50% or greater chance of passing within 1 LD of the Earth, which are listed separately below.

Date ofclosestapproach Datediscovered Object Nominal geocentricdistance (AU)Nominal geocentricdistance (LD)Size (m)(approximate) (H)(abs. mag.) Closerapproachto Moon Refs 2019-01-12 2019-01-16 P10LI6O 0.90Distance error: 0.0012 AU, approach range: 0.40 to 1.36 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 3–18 28.6 ? CNEOS Distance (H) (T) 2019-01-17 2019-01-16 P10LGkb 0.088Distance error: 0.000420 AU, approach range: 0.016 to 0.25 LD. There was a roughly 2% chance of impact. The asteroid is most likely between 1 and 14 meters across, so would probably be detectable. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 1–3 31.6 — CNEOS Distance (H) (T) 2019-01-27 2019-01-28 C04U1L2 0.60distance error: 0.0008 AU, approach range: 0.27 to 0.90 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 2–12 29.4 ? CNEOS Distance (H) (T) 2019-02-09 2019-02-09 C03CZA1 0.68distance error: 0.0010 AU, approach range: 0.30 to 1.07 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 9–30 26.9 — CNEOS Distance (H) (T) 2019-03-04 2019-03-05 C09Q4H2 0.069the asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 1–3 31.9 — CNEOS Distance (T) 2019-03-04 2019-03-04 C04H931 0.54distance error: 0.0004 AU, approach range: 0.39 to 0.70 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 5–19 28.0 ? CNEOS Distance (H) (T) 2019-03-06 2019-03-07 C0A1UN2 0.020distance error: 0.00013 AU. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. The asteroid may have impacted Earth. 0.4–1.3 33.5 — 2019-04-06 2019-04-05 A10cQ6k 0.39distance error: 0.00020 AU. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 6.7–22 27.5 — 2019-05-01 2019-05-01 C093PF1 0.23distance error: 0.00000085 AU. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 1.9–6.2 30.2 — 2019-05-03 2019-05-04 C0M3DQ2 0.34distance error: 0.00032 AU. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 5.1–16 28.1 —

Warning times by size

This sub-section visualises the warning times of the close approaches listed in the table of confirmed close approaches, 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.

Absolute magnitude H ≥ 30 (smallest) (size of a person for comparison)

Absolute magnitude 30 > H ≥ 29

Absolute magnitude 29 > H ≥ 28

Absolute magnitude 28 > H ≥ 27

Absolute magnitude 27 > H ≥ 26

Absolute magnitude 26 > H ≥ 25

Absolute magnitude 25 > H (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: Asteroids that come closer to Earth are a higher priority to confirm, and only confirmed asteroids are listed with a lunocentric approach distance. Those that closely approach the Moon are frequently lost in its glare, making them harder to confirm. They are similarly hard to discover during the new moon, when the Moon is too close to the Sun to detect asteroids while they are near the Moon.

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. Date ofclosestapproach Object Nominal lunocentricdistance (AU)Distance from the center of the Moon to the center of the object. The Moon has a radius of approximately 1,740 km. Nominal lunocentricdistance (LD)Size (m)(approximate) (H) approachdistanceto Earth (LD) Refs2019-01-04 0.96 10–43 26.3 1.43 2019-01-07 0.41 0.7–2.5 32.2 0.039 2019-01-15 0.86 5–18 28.0 0.18 2019-01-25 0.52 3–14 28.7 0.35 2019-01-27 0.91 4–12 28.7 0.13 2019-02-10 C03CZA1 0.93Distance error: 0.0010 AU, approach range: 0.54 to 1.32 LD. The asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 9–30 26.9 0.68 CNEOS Distance (H) (T)2019-02-11 0.70 6–19 27.8 0.31 2019-02-11 0.98 12–45 26.1 1.42 2019-02-26 0.94 15–51 25.6 1.89 2019-02-26 0.87 5–18 28.0 1.32 2019-02-27 2019 DF 0.66 2–8 29.7 0.47 2019-03-01 0.72 2–6 30.1 0.061 2019-03-04 C09Q4H2 0.998the asteroid is unconfirmed and will likely never receive a provisional designation. 1–3 31.9 0.069 CNEOS Distance (T)

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 2019.