Three new asteroids flew past Earth within 1 lunar distance
Three newly-discovered asteroids – designated 2020 DU, 2020 DA1, and 2020 DW – flew past Earth within 1 lunar distance over the past few days. This pushed the total number of known <1 LD asteroid flybys this year to 17. This time last year, we had just 6 such flybys.
2020 DU
2020 DU is Apollo-class asteroid first observed at Mt. Lemmon Survey, Arizona on February 16, three days after it made a close approach to our planet.
Its estimated diameter is between 4.9 and 11 m (16 – 36 feet).
The object flew past us at a distance of 0.85 LD / 0.00215 AU (321 635 km / 199 854 miles) at 13:22 UTC on February 13, at a speed (relative to the Earth) of 9.96 km/s.
[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]
Reference
2020 DU at Minor Planet Center; at CNEOS
2020 DA1
Asteroid 2020 DA1 also belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was first observed at Mt. Lemmon Survey on February 17, one day before its close approach.
This asteroid has an estimated diameter between 3.1 and 6.8 m (10 – 22 feet).
It flew past Earth at a distance of 0.50 LD / 0.00129 AU (192 981 km / 119 912 miles) at 10:32 UTC on February 18, at a speed (relative to the Earth) of 19.07 km/s.
[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]
Reference
2020 DA1 at Minor Planet Center; at CNEOS
2020 DW
Aten-class asteroid 2020 DW was first observed at Mt. Lemmon Survey on February 18, on the same day of its close approach to our planet.
Its estimated diameter is between 2.3 and 5.1 m (7 – 16.7 feet).
The object flew past us at a distance of 0.63 LD / 0.00161 AU (240 852 km / 149 658 miles) at 17:02 UTC on February 18, at a speed (relative to the Earth) of 4.04 km/s.
[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]
Reference
2020 DW at Minor Planet Center; at CNEOS
Asteroids detected within 1 lunar distance in 2020 (valid 17:02 UTC, February 20):
| NEO | DATE / TIME UTC | DISTANCE LD | AU | Diameter (m) | ||||
| 2020 DW | February 18 @ 17:02 ± < 00:01 | 0.63 | 0.00161 | 2.3 – 5.1 | ||||
| 2020 DA1 | February 18 @ 10:32 ± < 00:01 | 0.50 | 0.00129 | 3.1 – 6.8 | ||||
| 2020 CQ2 | February 14 @ 02:19 ± < 00:01 | 0.39 | 0.00099 | 5 – 11 | ||||
| 2020 DU | February 13 @ 13:22 ± 00:06 | 0.85 | 0.00217 | 4.9 – 11 | ||||
| 2020 CQ1 | February 4 @ 11:16 ± 00:02 | 0.17 | 0.00043 | 4.6 – 10 | ||||
| 2020 BT14 | February 3 @ 08:19 ± < 00:01 | 0.49 | 0.00126 | 7.9 – 18 | ||||
| 2020 CA | February 2 @ 15:49 ± 00:02 | 0.57 | 0.00147 | 3.2 – 7.2 | ||||
| 2020 CW | February 1 @ 12:50 ± < 00:01 | 0.04 | 0.00011 | 0.83 – 1.9 | ||||
| 2020 CJ | January 31 @ 19:03 ± < 00:01 | 0.92 | 0.00236 | 11 – 24 | ||||
| 2020 CZ | January 31 @ 03:51 ± 00:48 | 0.82 | 0.00210 | 3.7 – 8.2 | ||||
| 2020 BZ13 | January 29 @ 01:18 ± < 00:01 | 0.28 | 0.00071 | 2.9 – 6.5 | ||||
| 2020 BA15 | January 28 @ 18:03 ± 00:02 | 0.98 | 0.00251 | 8.9 – 20 | ||||
| 2020 BA13 | January 27 @ 16:56 ± < 00:01 | 0.51 | 0.00132 | 4.7 – 11 | ||||
| 2020 BH6 | January 25 @ 05:11 ± < 00:01 | 0.18 | 0.00047 | 5.2 – 12 | ||||
| 2020 BB5 | January 22 @ 00:20 ± 00:20 | 0.69 | 0.00177 | 3.3 – 7.4 | ||||
| 2020 BK3 | January 20 @ 20:51 ± 00:05 | 0.78 | 0.00200 | 11 – 25 | ||||
| 2020 AP1 | January 2 @ 15:33 ± 00:02 | 0.85 | 0.00218 | 3.2 – 7.2 | ||||
Asteroids detected within 1 lunar distance in 2019:
| NEO | DATE / TIME UTC | DISTANCE LD | AU | Diameter (m) | ||||
| 2019 YV4 | December 25 @ 21:41 ± 11:01 | 0.98 | 0.00251 | 9.3 – 21 | ||||
| 2019 YU2 | December 23 @ 19:28 ± < 00:01 | 0.26 | 0.00066 | 8.9 – 20 | ||||
| 2019 YS | December 18 @ 15:12 ± < 00:01 | 0.17 | 0.00044 | 1.3 – 3 | ||||
| 2019 YB | December 18 @ 00:12 ± 00:03 | 0.44 | 0.00113 | 3.1 – 7 | ||||
| 2019 WJ4 | November 30 @ 20:05 ± < 00:01 | 0.85 | 0.00219 | 5.5 – 12 | ||||
| 2019 WG2 | November 23 @ 08:44 ± < 00:01 | 0.47 | 0.00121 | 26 – 59 | ||||
| 2019 WV1 | November 19 @ 23:45 ± 03:13 | 0.72 | 0.00186 | 6.3 – 14 | ||||
| 2019 WH | November 19 @ 08:01 ± < 00:01 | 0.22 | 0.00057 | 16 – 36 | ||||
| 2019 VF5 | November 9 @ 23:16 ± < 00:01 | 0.49 | 0.00127 | 8.3 – 19 | ||||
| 2019 VB5 | November 9 @ 17:29 ± < 00:01 | 0.38 | 0.00097 | 1.2 – 2.7 | ||||
| 2019 VS4 | November 6 @ 16:28 ± < 00:01 | 0.36 | 0.00093 | 9.3 – 21 | ||||
| 2019 VR | November 4 @ 10:35 ± < 00:01 | 0.35 | 0.00091 | 6.5 – 14 | ||||
| 2019 VD | November 4 @ 09:55 ± 00:01 | 0.45 | 0.00116 | 8.7 – 19 | ||||
| 2019 VA | November 2 @ 17:41 ± 00:12 | 0.28 | 0.00072 | 5.6 – 12 | ||||
| 2019 UG11 | November 1 @ 20:42 ± 00:02 | 0.55 | 0.00140 | 13 – 29 | ||||
| 2019 UN13 | October 31 @ 14:45 ± < 00:01 | 0.03 | 8.43e-5 | 1 – 2.2 | ||||
| 2019 UB8 | October 29 @ 06:30 ± 00:03 | 0.50 | 0.00127 | 4 – 8.9 | ||||
| 2019 UD10 | October 27 @ 10:08 ± 00:02 | 0.44 | 0.00112 | 6.3 – 14 | ||||
| 2019 UX12 | October 26 @ 03:08 ± 00:04 | 0.99 | 0.00255 | 4.9 – 11 | ||||
| 2019 UO8 | October 25 @ 13:30 ± 00:01 | 0.41 | 0.00105 | 3.1 – 6.9 | ||||
| 2019 UN8 | October 23 @ 16:41 ± 00:17 | 0.93 | 0.00235 | 3.1 – 6.9 | ||||
| 2019 UL3 | October 19 @ 22:23 ± 00:08 | 0.77 | 0.00199 | 6 – 13 | ||||
| 2019 UG | October 18 @ 09:23 ± < 00:01 | 0.84 | 0.00215 | 6.8 – 15 | ||||
| 2019 UU1 | October 18 @ 06:23 ± < 00:01 | 0.59 | 0.00150 | 2.1 – 5.1 | ||||
| 2019 TN5 | October 5 @ 22:38 ± < 00:01 | 0.32 | 0.00083 | 5.5 – 12 | ||||
| 2019 SP3 | October 3 @ 06:36 ± 00:34 | 0.97 | 0.00248 | 13 – 30 | ||||
| 2019 SM8 | October 1 @ 13:56 ± < 00:01 | 0.41 | 0.00106 | 3.8 – 8.6 | ||||
| 2019 TD | September 29 @ 18:50 ± 00:13 | 0.34 | 0.00087 | 4.1 – 9.1 | ||||
| 2019 TE | September 28 @ 20:31 ± 01:31 | 0.93 | 0.00238 | 6.8 – 15 | ||||
| 2019 SX8 | September 28 @ 07:49 ± 00:38 | 0.99 | 0.00255 | 4.6 – 10 | ||||
| 2019 SS3 | September 22 @ 22:48 ± 00:21 | 0.73 | 0.00188 | 15 – 34 | ||||
| 2019 SS2 | September 21 @ 07:12 ± 00:02 | 0.30 | 0.00077 | 2 – 4.4 | ||||
| 2019 SD1 | September 21 @ 06:46 ± < 00:01 | 0.73 | 0.00187 | 5.5 – 12 | ||||
| 2019 SU2 | September 21 @ 02:48 ± 00:05 | 0.19 | 0.00048 | 2.7 – 6.1 | ||||
| 2019 SJ | September 16 @ 18:55 ± 00:03 | 0.64 | 0.00163 | 8.6 – 19 | ||||
| 2019 RC1 | September 7 @ 10:48 ± 00:04 | 0.48 | 0.00123 | 4.5 – 10 | ||||
| 2019 RP1 | September 5 @ 22:04 ± < 00:01 | 0.10 | 0.00025 | 7.4 – 17 | ||||
| 2019 RQ | September 2 @ 16:45 ± < 00:01 | 0.29 | 0.00074 | 2.1 – 4.6 | ||||
| 2019 QQ3 | August 26 @ 15:14 ± 00:01 | 0.25 | 0.00064 | 3.7 – 8.2 | ||||
| 2019 QR8 | August 26 @ 08:51 ± 01:08 | 0.80 | 0.00207 | 6.6 – 15 | ||||
| 2019 QD | August 22 @ 01:28 ± < 00:08 | 0.78 | 0.00200 | 4.7 – 11 | ||||
| 2019 QH2 | August 20 @ 18:12 ± 00:08 | 0.13 | 0.00033 | 2.2 – 5 | ||||
| 2019 QB1 | August 20 @ 11:55 ± 00:08 | 0.32 | 0.00082 | 9.3 – 21 | ||||
| 2019 ON3 | July 29 @ 01:19 ± 00:14 | 0.56 | 0.00143 | 7.4 – 16 | ||||
| 2019 OD3 | July 28 @ 02:56 ± < 00:01 | 0.49 | 0.00126 | 11 – 25 | ||||
| 2019 OK | July 25 @ 01:22 ± < 00:04 | 0.19 | 0.00048 | 57 – 130 | ||||
| 2019 OD | July 24 @ 13:31 ± 00:04 | 0.93 | 0.00239 | 54 – 120 | ||||
| 2019 NN3 | July 10 @ 16:29 ± < 00:01 | 0.83 | 0.00214 | 35 – 77 | ||||
| 2019 NF7 | July 9 @ 12:07 ± < 00:01 | 0.98 | 0.00253 | 6.4 – 14 | ||||
| 2019 MB4 | July 9 @ 07:20 ± < 00:01 | 0.82 | 0.00211 | 17 – 38 | ||||
| 2019 NK1 | July 2 @ 09:48 ± 00:05 | 0.69 | 0.00177 | 2.9 – 6.5 | ||||
| 2019 LW4 | June 8 @ 17:04 ± < 00:01 | 0.65 | 0.00166 | 9.3 – 21 | ||||
| 2019 LY4 | June 6 @ 01:30 ± < 00:01 | 0.22 | 0.00056 | 7.3 – 16 | ||||
| 2019 KT | May 28 @ 03:48 ± < 00:01 | 0.85 | 0.00217 | 13 – 29 | ||||
| 2019 JH2 | May 16 @ 00:06 ± < 00:01 | 0.19 | 0.00048 | 3.1 – 7 | ||||
| 2019 JY2 | May 5 @ 17:12 ± < 00:01 | 0.38 | 0.00098 | 3.3 – 7.3 | ||||
| 2019 JX1 | May 2 @ 12:39 ± 00:02 | 0.47 | 0.00120 | 3.8 – 8.6 | ||||
| 2019 JK | April 30 @ 08:12 UTC ± 00:01 | 0.69 | 0.00178 | 7.1 – 16 | ||||
| 2019 HE | April 20 @ 21:12 ± < 00:01 | 0.58 | 0.00149 | 13 – 30 | ||||
| 2019 GC6 | April 18 @ 06:39 ± 00:29 | 0.57 | 0.00147 | 13 – 28 | ||||
| 2019 GN20 | April 12 @ 07:06 ± < 00:01 | 0.98 | 0.00253 | 14 – 31 | ||||
| 2019 FP21 | March 31 @ 19:00 ± 07:46 | 0.93 | 0.00238 | 3 – 6.6 | ||||
| 2019 FV1 | March 31 @ 05:27 ± < 00:01 | 0.87 | 0.00223 | 4.6 – 10 | ||||
| 2019 FC1 | March 28 @ 05:46 ± < 00:01 | 0.27 | 0.00069 | 20 – 45 | ||||
| 2019 FQ | March 23 @ 18:17 UTC ± < 00:01 | 0.86 | 0.00220 | 10 – 23 | ||||
| 2019 EA2 | March 22 @ 01:53 UTC ± 00:02 | 0.80 | 0.00205 | 18 – 40 | ||||
| 2019 FA | March 16 @ 01:14 UTC ± < 00:01 | 0.60 | 0.00154 | 4.9 – 11 | ||||
| 2019 EN2 | March 13 @ 23:38 UTC ± < 00:01 | 0.86 | 0.00221 | 8 – 18 | ||||
| 2019 EH1 | March 1 @ 17:38 UTC ± < 00:01 | 0.06 | 0.00016 | 2.5 – 5.7 | ||||
| 2019 DF | February 26 @ 21:21 UTC ± 00:09 | 0.47 | 0.00120 | 3.0 – 6.7 | ||||
| 2019 DG2 | Febraury 26 @ 07:39 UTC ± 07:39 | 0.61 | 0.00158 | 5.4 – 12 | ||||
| 2019 CN5 | February 11 @ 07:23 UTC ± 00:03 | 0.31 | 0.00079 | 7.3 – 16 | ||||
| 2019 BZ3 | January 27 @ 23:29 ± < 00:01 | 0.13 | 0.00032 | 4.8 – 11 | ||||
| 2019 BV1 | January 24 @ 20:53 ± < 00:01 | 0.35 | 0.00090 | 4.8 – 11 | ||||
| 2019 BO | January 16 @ 01:13 ± 00:02 | 0.18 | 0.00046 | 6.3 – 14 | ||||
| 2019 AE9 | January 12 @ 11:09 ± < 00:01 | 0.26 | 0.00067 | 9.9 – 22 | ||||
| 2019 AS5 | January 8 @ 00:37 ± < 00:01 | 0.04 | 0.00010 | 0.92 – 2.1 | ||||
Featured image credit: MPC
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