List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2018
Time of discovery of asteroids which came closer to Earth than the Moon in 2018 |
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 (0.0025696 AU (384,410 km; 238,860 mi)) from Earth in 2018.[note 1]
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. Eight known asteroids (2018 BD, A106fgF, 2018 LA, A107j4q, 2018 PD20, 2018 UA, 2018 WG, and 2018 WV1) are confirmed to have passed within this distance, and poorly-observed asteroids ZB0A262, 2018 DN4, ZGBE54F, A1080DC 2018 VQ10, 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 2018 AH 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 2018 GE3 that passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 29.6 km/s (66,000 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] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-01-02 | 2018-01-04 | 2018 AH | 0.00199 AU (298,000 km; 185,000 mi) | 0.77[note 4] | 84–190 | 22.5 | — | data · 2018 AH |
2018-01-15 | 2018-01-17 | 2018 BW | 0.00112 AU (168,000 km; 104,000 mi) | 0.43 | 6–14 | 28.1 | — | data · 2018 BW |
2018-01-16 | 2018-01-17 | 2018 BR1 | 0.000877 AU (131,200 km; 81,500 mi) | 0.34 | 3–8 | 29.5 | — | data · 2018 BR1 |
2018-01-18 | 2018-01-18 | 2018 BD | 0.000262 AU (39,200 km; 24,400 mi) | 0.10 | 2–6 | 30.1 | — | data · 2018 BD |
2018-01-19 | 2018-01-20 | 2018 BF3 | 0.00162 AU (242,000 km; 151,000 mi) | 0.63 | 17–38 | 26.0 | — | data · 2018 BF3 |
2018-01-19 | 2018-01-17 | 2018 BC | 0.00189 AU (283,000 km; 176,000 mi) | 0.73 | 3–9 | 29.4 | — | data · 2018 BC |
2018-01-19 | 2018-01-18 | 2018 BX | 0.00188 AU (281,000 km; 175,000 mi) | 0.73 | 4–9 | 29.1 | — | data · 2018 BX |
2018-01-20 | 2018-01-24 | 2018 BL11 | 0.00203 AU (304,000 km; 189,000 mi) | 0.79 | 5–13 | 28.3 | ✓ | data · 2018 BL11 |
2018-01-22 | 2018-01-22 | A106fgF | Potential Impact? | 0.0011[note 5] | 2–5 | 30.6 | — | Src |
2018-01-24 | 2018-01-27 | 2018 BN6 | 0.00242 AU (362,000 km; 225,000 mi) | 0.94 | 12–26 | 26.8 | — | data · 2018 BN6 |
2018-01-25 | 2018-01-26 | ZB0A262 | 0.000401 AU (60,000 km; 37,300 mi) | 0.16[note 6] | 2–5 | 30.6 | — | Src |
2018-02-04 | 2018-02-07 | 2018 CS1 | 0.00230 AU (344,000 km; 214,000 mi) | 0.90 | 6–14 | 28.2 | — | data · 2018 CS1 |
2018-02-06 | 2018-02-07 | 2018 CF2 | 0.000650 AU (97,200 km; 60,400 mi) | 0.25 | 6–15 | 28.0 | — | data · 2018 CF2 |
2018-02-06 | 2018-02-04 | 2018 CC | 0.00126 AU (188,000 km; 117,000 mi) | 0.49 | 13–28 | 26.6 | — | data · 2018 CC |
2018-02-09 | 2018-02-08 | 2018 CN2 | 0.000467 AU (69,900 km; 43,400 mi) | 0.18 | 7–16 | 27.8 | — | data · 2018 CN2 |
2018-02-09 | 2018-02-04 | 2018 CB | 0.000466 AU (69,700 km; 43,300 mi) | 0.18 | 18–39 | 25.9 | — | data · 2018 CB |
2018-02-16 | 2018-02-10 | 2018 CD3 | 0.00237 AU (355,000 km; 220,000 mi) | 0.92 | 5–11 | 28.6 | — | data · 2018 CD3 |
2018-02-21 | 2018-02-22 | 2018 DQ | 0.000670 AU (100,200 km; 62,300 mi) | 0.26 | 4–9 | 29.1 | — | data · 2018 DQ |
2018-02-24 | 2018-02-26 | 2018 DN4 | 0.00141 AU (211,000 km; 131,000 mi) | 0.55[note 7] | 5–12 | 28.4 | ? | data · 2018 DN4 |
2018-02-25 | 2018-02-23 | 2018 DU | 0.00190 AU (284,000 km; 177,000 mi) | 0.74 | 5–13 | 28.3 | — | data · 2018 DU |
2018-03-02 | 2018-02-26 | 2018 DV1 | 0.000748 AU (111,900 km; 69,500 mi) | 0.29 | 5–12 | 28.4 | — | data · 2018 DV1 |
2018-03-14 | 2018-03-12 | 2018 EZ2 | 0.00144 AU (215,000 km; 134,000 mi) | 0.56 | 13–28 | 26.6 | ✓ | data · 2018 EZ2 |
2018-03-17 | 2018-03-19 | 2018 FL29 | 0.00148 AU (221,000 km; 138,000 mi) | 0.58 | 2–6 | 30.1 | — | data · 2018 FL29 |
2018-03-18 | 2018-03-21 | 2018 FE3 | 0.000979 AU (146,500 km; 91,000 mi) | 0.38 | 9–22 | 27.2 | — | data · 2018 FE3 |
2018-03-19 | 2018-03-20 | 2018 FQ3 | 0.00187 AU (280,000 km; 174,000 mi) | 0.73 | 5–11 | 28.6 | — | data · 2018 FQ3 |
2018-03-23 | 2018-03-21 | 2018 FZ3 | 0.00129 AU (193,000 km; 120,000 mi) | 0.50 | 8–18 | 27.6 | — | data · 2018 FZ3 |
2018-03-30 | 2018-03-28 | 2018 FK5 | 0.00100 AU (150,000 km; 93,000 mi) | 0.39 | 5–13 | 28.3 | — | data · 2018 FK5 |
2018-04-07 | 2018-04-11 | 2018 GR11 | 0.00177 AU (265,000 km; 165,000 mi) | 0.69 | 6–12 | 28.5 | — | data · 2018 GR11 |
2018-04-10 | 2008-04-13 | 2008 GY21 aka 2018 GY3 | 0.00201 AU (301,000 km; 187,000 mi) | 0.78 | 8–18 | 27.6 | — | data · 2008 GY21 |
2018-04-12 | 2018-04-13 | ZGBE54F | 0.000469 AU (70,200 km; 43,600 mi) | 0.18[note 8] | 2–7 | 30.0 | — | Src |
2018-04-12 | 2018-04-11 | 2018 GD2 | 0.00201 AU (301,000 km; 187,000 mi) | 0.78 | 3–8 | 29.4 | — | data · 2018 GD2 |
2018-04-15 | 2018-04-14 | 2018 GE3 | 0.00129 AU (193,000 km; 120,000 mi) | 0.50 | 46–100 | 23.8 | ✓ | data · 2018 GE3 |
2018-04-21 | 2018-04-23 | 2018 HW1 | 0.00229 AU (343,000 km; 213,000 mi) | 0.89 | 18–41 | 25.8 | — | data · 2018 HW1 |
2018-04-22 | 2018-04-21 | 2018 HV | 0.00103 AU (154,000 km; 96,000 mi) | 0.40 | 4–10 | 28.9 | — | data · 2018 HV |
2018-05-15 | 2010-11-30 | 2010 WC9 | 0.00136 AU (203,000 km; 126,000 mi) | 0.53 | 51–110 | 23.6 | — | data · 2010 WC9 |
2018-05-23 | 2018-05-22 | 2018 KW1 | 0.000997 AU (149,100 km; 92,700 mi) | 0.39 | 3–7 | 29.7 | — | data · 2018 KW1 |
2018-05-26 | 2018-05-24 | 2018 KY2 | 0.00200 AU (299,000 km; 186,000 mi) | 0.78 | 9–22 | 27.2 | — | data · 2018 KY2 |
2018-06-02 | 2018-06-02 | 2018 LA | 0.0000334 AU (5,000 km; 3,100 mi) (Impact) | 0.0130 (Impact)[note 9] | 2–3 | 30.5 | — | data · 2018 LA |
2018-06-15 | 2018-06-11 | 2018 LV3 | 0.00221 AU (331,000 km; 205,000 mi) | 0.86 | 13–30 | 26.5 | — | data · 2018 LV3 |
2018-06-16 | 2018-06-17 | 2018 MZ4 | 0.00139 AU (208,000 km; 129,000 mi) | 0.54 | 4–10 | 28.8 | ✓ | data · 2018 MZ4 |
2018-06-17 | 2018-06-17 | A107j4q | 0.000206 AU (30,800 km; 19,100 mi) | 0.080[note 10] | 4–11 | 28.9 | — | Src · diagram |
2018-06-23 | 2018-06-24 | A107pL2 | 0.000525 AU (78,500 km; 48,800 mi) | 0.20[note 11] | 3–9 | 29.5 | — | Src |
2018-07-04 | 2018-07-05 | ZN2E090 | 0.00132 AU (197,000 km; 123,000 mi) | 0.51[note 12] | 4–12 | 28.8 | — | Src |
2018-07-07 | 2018-07-08 | 2018 NX | 0.000783 AU (117,100 km; 72,800 mi) | 0.30 | 7–17 | 27.7 | — | data · 2018 NX |
2018-07-08 | 2018-07-08 | 2018 NW | 0.000833 AU (124,600 km; 77,400 mi) | 0.32 | 7–16 | 27.8 | — | data · 2018 NW |
2018-08-10 | 2018-08-11 | 2018 PD20 | 0.000224 AU (33,500 km; 20,800 mi) | 0.087 | 8–20 | 27.4 | — | data · 2018 PD20 |
2018-08-12 | 2018-08-13 | A1080DC | 0.000284 AU (42,500 km; 26,400 mi) | 0.11[note 13] | 1–4 | 31.3 | — | Src |
2018-08-21 | 2018-08-21 | 2018 QR1 | 0.000592 AU (88,600 km; 55,000 mi) | 0.23 | 8–20 | 27.4 | — | data · 2018 QR1 |
2018-09-03 | 2018-09-07 | 2018 RR1 | 0.00243 AU (364,000 km; 226,000 mi) | 0.94 | 2–6 | 29.9 | — | data · 2018 RR1 |
2018-09-05 | 2018-09-06 | 2018 RS | 0.000710 AU (106,200 km; 66,000 mi) | 0.28 | 2–9 | 30.0 | — | data · 2018 RS |
2018-09-06 | 2018-09-07 | 2018 RE2 | 0.00255 AU (381,000 km; 237,000 mi) | 0.991 | 5–12 | 28.5 | — | data · 2018 RE2 |
2018-09-07 | 2018-09-09 | 2018 RJ3 | 0.00112 AU (168,000 km; 104,000 mi) | 0.44 | 7–16 | 27.8 | — | data · 2018 RJ3 |
2018-09-08 | 2018-09-07 | 2018 RW | 0.00114 AU (171,000 km; 106,000 mi) | 0.44 | 2–5 | 30.3 | — | data · 2018 RW |
2018-09-09 | 2018-09-03 | 2018 RC | 0.00150 AU (224,000 km; 139,000 mi) | 0.58 | 28–63 | 24.9 | — | data · 2018 RC |
2018-09-12 | 2018-09-13 | 2018 RY5 | 0.00120 AU (180,000 km; 112,000 mi) | 0.47 | 10–36 | 26.5 | — | data · 2018 RY5 |
2018-09-12 | 2018-09-13 | 2018 RZ5 | 0.000331 AU (49,500 km; 30,800 mi) | 0.13 | 2–8 | 29.7 | — | data · 2018 RZ5 |
2018-09-15 | 2018-09-16 | 2018 SM | 0.000285 AU (42,600 km; 26,500 mi) | 0.11 | 3–9 | 29.4 | — | data · 2018 SM |
2018-09-16 | 2018-09-18 | 2018 SN3 | 0.00131 AU (196,000 km; 122,000 mi) | 0.51 | 2–7 | 29.9 | — | data · 2018 SN3 |
2018-09-18 | 2018-09-17 | 2018 SC | 0.00179 AU (268,000 km; 166,000 mi) | 0.70 | 5–19 | 27.9 | — | data · 2018 SC |
2018-09-25 | 2018-09-21 | 2018 SD2 | 0.000587 AU (87,800 km; 54,600 mi) | 0.23 | 4–12 | 28.6 | — | data · 2018 SD2 |
2018-09-30 | 2018-10-02 | 2018 TC | 0.00204 AU (305,000 km; 190,000 mi) | 0.79 | 10–31 | 26.6 | — | data · 2018 TC |
2018-10-06 | 2018-10-05 | 2018 TV5 | 0.000682 AU (102,000 km; 63,400 mi) | 0.27 | 3–9 | 29.5 | — | data · 2018 TV5 |
2018-10-06 | 2018-10-06 | ZTF01Z9 | 0.00170 AU (254,000 km; 158,000 mi) | 0.66[note 14] | 4–12 | 28.8 | — | Src |
2018-10-07 | 2018-10-05 | 2018 TV | 0.00190 AU (284,000 km; 177,000 mi) | 0.74 | 4–13 | 28.6 | — | data · 2018 TV |
2018-10-17 | 2018-10-18 | 2018 UL | 0.00148 AU (221,000 km; 138,000 mi) | 0.57 | 3–11 | 29.1 | ✓ | data · 2018 UL |
2018-10-19 | 2018-10-19 | 2018 UA | 0.0000914 AU (13,670 km; 8,500 mi) | 0.036 | 2–6 | 30.2 | — | data · 2018 UA |
2018-11-01 | 2018-11-01 | 2018 VQ10 | 0.000276 AU (41,300 km; 25,700 mi) | 0.11[note 15] | 2–5 | 30.6 | — | Temp. src |
2018-11-02 | 2018-11-03 | 2018 VP1 | 0.00101 AU (151,000 km; 94,000 mi) | 0.39 | 1–5 | 30.8 | — | data · 2018 VP1 |
2018-11-05 | 2018-11-08 | 2018 VT5 | 0.00123 AU (184,000 km; 114,000 mi) | 0.48 | 4–16 | 28.3 | — | data · 2018 VT5 |
2018-11-06 | 2018-11-07 | 2018 VO5 | 0.000942 AU (140,900 km; 87,600 mi) | 0.37 | 9–33 | 26.7 | — | data · 2018 VO5 |
2018-11-10 | 2018-11-04 | 2018 VX1 aka 2018 VA6 | 0.00255 AU (381,000 km; 237,000 mi) | 0.994 | 6–22 | 27.5 | — | data · 2018 VX1 |
2018-11-11 | 2018-11-11 | 2018 VS10 | 0.00103 AU (154,000 km; 96,000 mi) | 0.40 | 3–10 | 29.1 | — | Temp. src |
2018-11-13 | 2018-11-10 | 2018 VC7 | 0.00224 AU (335,000 km; 208,000 mi) | 0.87 | 7–23 | 27.4 | — | data · 2018 VC7 |
2018-11-13 | 2018-11-16 | 2018 WA1 | 0.00168 AU (251,000 km; 156,000 mi) | 0.65 | 2–7 | 30.0 | — | data · 2018 WA1 |
2018-11-14 | 2018-11-15 | 2018 VJ10 | 0.00133 AU (199,000 km; 124,000 mi) | 0.52 | 4–12 | 28.6 | ✓ | data · 2018 VJ10 |
2018-11-15 | 2018-11-17 | ZW84BCD | 0.000845 AU (126,400 km; 78,500 mi) | 0.33[note 16] | 2–7 | 30.0 | — | Src |
2018-11-16 | 2018-11-17 | ZW87F01 | 0.000594 AU (88,900 km; 55,200 mi) | 0.23[note 17] | 1–2 | 32.3 | — | Src |
2018-11-16 | 2018-11-17 | 2018 WH | 0.00127 AU (190,000 km; 118,000 mi) | 0.50 | 2–8 | 29.8 | — | data · 2018 WH |
2018-11-16 | 2018-11-17 | 2018 WG | 0.000206 AU (30,800 km; 19,100 mi) | 0.080 | 3–10 | 29.3 | — | data · 2018 WG |
2018-11-18 | 2018-11-17 | 2018 WE | 0.00160 AU (239,000 km; 149,000 mi) | 0.62 | 4–16 | 28.3 | ✓ | data · 2018 WE |
2018-11-19 | 2018-11-17 | 2018 WJ | 0.000794 AU (118,800 km; 73,800 mi) | 0.31 | 6–26 | 27.5 | — | data · 2018 WJ |
2018-11-25 | 2018-11-26 | 2018 WE1 | 0.000715 AU (107,000 km; 66,500 mi) | 0.28 | 12–51 | 26.0 | — | data · 2018 WE1 |
2018-11-27 | 2018-11-28 | 2018 WZ1 | 0.000729 AU (109,100 km; 67,800 mi) | 0.28 | 3–9 | 29.4 | — | data · 2018 WZ1 |
2018-11-28 | 2018-11-29 | 2018 WA3 | 0.00216 AU (323,000 km; 201,000 mi) | 0.84 | 5–20 | 27.8 | — | data · 2018 WA3 |
2018-11-28 | 2018-11-29 | ZW900BE | 0.000224 AU (33,500 km; 20,800 mi) | 0.087[note 18] | 1–4 | 31.2 | — | Src |
2018-11-30 | 2018-11-29 | 2018 WG2 | 0.00134 AU (200,000 km; 125,000 mi) | 0.52 | 2–7 | 30.1 | — | data · 2018 WG2 |
2018-12-02 | 2018-11-29 | 2018 WV1 | 0.000221 AU (33,100 km; 20,500 mi) | 0.086 | 2–6 | 30.2 | — | data · 2018 WV1 |
2018-12-11 | 2018-12-13 | 2018 XA4 | 0.00249 AU (372,000 km; 231,000 mi) | 0.97 | 3–11 | 29.1 | ✓ | data · 2018 XA4 |
2018-12-27 | 2018-12-28 | 2018 YL2 | 0.000398 AU (59,500 km; 37,000 mi) | 0.15 | 3–10 | 29.3 | — | data · 2018 YL2 |
2018-12-28 | 2018-12-29 | 2018 YO2 | 0.00131 AU (196,000 km; 122,000 mi) | 0.51 | 2–6 | 29.8 | — | data · 2018 YO2 |
2018-12-28 | 2019-01-03 | 2019 AW2 | 0.00110 AU (165,000 km; 102,000 mi) | 0.43 | 22–69 | 25.1 | — | data · 2019 AW2 |
2018-12-30 | 2018-12-31 | 2018 YJ4 | 0.000725 AU (108,500 km; 67,400 mi) | 0.28 | 2–7 | 29.8 | — | 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)