Asteroid 2018 BD missed Earth by just 0.10 LD on January 18
A newly discovered asteroid designated 2018 BD flew past Earth at a very close distance of 0.10 LD / 0.00026 AU (~38 895 km / 24 168 miles) at 15:43 UTC on January 18, 2018, some 7 hours after it was discovered. This is the fourth closest approach to our planet since 2017 EA on March 02, 2017, 2017 GM on April 4, 2017, and 2017 UJ2 on October 20, 2017.
Asteroid 2018 BD was first observed at 08:24 UTC on January 18, 2018 at Catalina Sky Survey. This is a very small Apollo asteroid with an estimated diameter of 2.5 to 5.5 m (8.2 to 18 feet).
It flew past Earth at a very close distance of 0.10 LD at 15:43 UTC today, according to data provided by CNEOS. The Minor Planet Center has this asteroid flying past us at 17:27 UTC today.
[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]
This is the 3rd known asteroid to flyby Earth within 1 lunar distance since the start of the year and the 56th since January 1, 2017. It comes just one day before the close approach of asteroid 2018 BC, discovered on January 17.
Its next close approach to our planet will take place at 20:37 UTC on November 19, 2018 at 0.33 AU. However, it won't come nearly as close as it did today for at least 115 years.
Reference:
Asteroid 2018 BD at Minor Planet Center; at CNEOS
Featured image: Featured image: The green line indicates the object's apparent motion relative to the Earth, and the bright green marks are the object's location at approximately one-hour intervals. The Moon's orbit is grey. The blue arrow points in the direction of Earth's motion and the yellow arrow points toward the Sun. Credit: Minor Planet Center.
LD stands for lunar distance. So it came to within 10% of the distance to the moon. One lunar distance is about 1.3 light seconds.
0.10 LD = 144 light minutes, the sun is 8 light minutes away from Earth but your animation gives the impression it came far closer than the sun?