List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020

	Asteroids which came closer to Earth than the Moon in 2020 by discoverer
	G96 Mount Lemmon Survey: 43 (38.4%); F51 Pan-STARRS 1: 16 (14.3%); 703 Catalina Sky Survey: 14 (12.5%); T08 ATLAS-MLO: 12 (10.7%); T05 ATLAS-HKO: 6 (5.4%); 381 Tokyo-Kiso: 5 (4.5%); F52 Pan-STARRS 2: 5 (4.5%); I41 Zwicky Transient facility: 5 (4.5%); P07 SST, HEH Station: 3 (2.7%); D29 Purple Mountain Observatory: 2 (1.8%); (-) L. Buzzi: 1 (0.9%);

Other years
	Asteroids which came closer to Earth than the Moon in 2020 by time of discovery
After closest approach: 66 (58.9%); < 24 hours before: 18 (16.1%); up to 7 days before: 26 (23.2%); > one week before: 2 (1.8%); > 7 weeks before: 0 (0.0%); > one year before: 0 (0.0%);	2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
	2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Prediction accuracy for asteroids of magnitude 27 or larger predicted to pass within 1 lunar distance of Earth in 2020^{[note 1]}
Unpredicted: 22 (100.0%) Predicted but not observed: 0 (0.0%) Observed but details incorrect: 0 (0.0%) Distance correct but not date: 0 (0.0%) Date correct but not distance: 0 (0.0%) Successfully predicted: 0 (0.0%)

Below is the list of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020.

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 2020, based on the close approach database of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).^[1]

For reference, the radius of Earth is about 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 2020, notably 2020 CW, 2020 JJ, 2020 QG, and 2020 VT4 which all approached Earth within 0.05 lunar distances. At 0.0000451 AU (0.0176 LD; 6,750 km; 4,190 mi) from the center of the Earth or about 370 km (230 mi) above the surface of the Earth, the 13 November 2020 close approach of 2020 VT₄ was the closest approach of an asteroid ever observed without atmospheric contact, and still holds this record as of February 2025^[update].

Two objects have been observed to be temporary satellites of Earth: 2020 CD3 in February 2020 and 2020 SO in September 2020, albeit the latter has been confirmed to be a rocket booster from the Surveyor 2 mission launched in 1966, leading to its de-listing as asteroid.^[2]

The largest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2020 was 2020 LD with an estimated diameter of around 145 meters and an absolute magnitude of 22.4. The fastest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2020 was 2020 FD₂ that passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 33.4 km/s (75,000 mph).^[3]^{[note 2]}

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 the relevant databases do not consider impacts as close approaches, thus this list does not include any of the objects that collided with Earth's atmosphere in 2020, none of which were discovered in advance, but were observed visually or recorded by sensors designed to detect detonation of nuclear devices.

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^{[note 3]}		Approx. size (m)	(H) (abs. mag.)	Closer approach to Moon^{[note 4]}	References^[4]^[5]
Date of closest approach	Date discovered	Object	(AU)	(Lunar distance)	Approx. size (m)	(H) (abs. mag.)	Closer approach to Moon^{[note 4]}	References^[4]^[5]
2020-01-02	2020-01-04	2020 AP1	0.002185 AU (326,900 km; 203,100 mi)	0.850	3.2–7.1	29.6	✓	data · 2020 AP₁
2020-01-20	2020-01-22	2020 BK₃	0.001998 AU (298,900 km; 185,700 mi)	0.778	11–25	26.9	—	data · 2020 BK₃
2020-01-22	2020-01-23	2020 BB₅	0.001775 AU (265,500 km; 165,000 mi)	0.691	3.1–6.8	29.7	—	data · 2020 BB₅
2020-01-25	2020-01-24	2020 BH₆	0.000469 AU (70,200 km; 43,600 mi)	0.183	5.1–11	28.6	—	data · 2020 BH₆
2020-01-27	2020-01-28	2020 BA₁₃	0.001321 AU (197,600 km; 122,800 mi)	0.514	4.4–9.9	28.9	—	data · 2020 BA₁₃
2020-01-28	2020-01-30	2020 BA₁₅	0.002517 AU (376,500 km; 234,000 mi)	0.980	8.8–20	27.4	✓	data · 2020 BA₁₅
2020-01-29	2020-01-28	2020 BZ₁₃	0.000716 AU (107,100 km; 66,600 mi)	0.279	2.8–6.2	29.9	—	data · 2020 BZ₁₃
2020-01-31	2020-02-02	2020 CZ	0.002105 AU (314,900 km; 195,700 mi)	0.819	3.5–7.8	29.4	—	data · 2020 CZ
2020-01-31	2020-02-02	2020 CJ	0.002363 AU (353,500 km; 219,700 mi)	0.919	11–25	26.9	✓	data · 2020 CJ
2020-02-01	2020-02-01	2020 CW	0.000105 AU (15,700 km; 9,800 mi)	0.041	0.82–1.8	32.6	—	data · 2020 CW
2020-02-02	2020-02-01	2020 CA	0.001466 AU (219,300 km; 136,300 mi)	0.570	3.2–7.1	29.6	—	data · 2020 CA
2020-02-03	2020-01-31	2020 BT₁₄	0.001255 AU (187,700 km; 116,700 mi)	0.489	7.7–17	27.7	—	data · 2020 BT₁₄
2020-02-04	2020-02-05	2020 CQ₁	0.000431 AU (64,500 km; 40,100 mi)	0.168	4.5–10	28.9	—	data · 2020 CQ₁
2020-02-13	2020-02-16	2020 DU	0.002172 AU (324,900 km; 201,900 mi)	0.845	4.8–11	28.7	✓	data · 2020 DU
2020-02-13	2020-02-15	2020 CD3	0.000315 AU (47,100 km; 29,300 mi)	0.122	1.2–2.7	31.7	—	data · 2020 CD₃
2020-02-14	2020-02-15	2020 CQ₂	0.000990 AU (148,100 km; 92,000 mi)	0.385	5.1–11	28.6	—	data · 2020 CQ₂
2020-02-17	2020-02-17	2020 DP₁₄	0.000803 AU (120,100 km; 74,600 mi)	0.312	2.3–5.2	30.3	—	data · 2020 DP₁₄
2020-02-18	2020-02-17	2020 DA₁	0.001294 AU (193,600 km; 120,300 mi)	0.503	2.9–6.5	29.8	—	data · 2020 DA₁
2020-02-18	2020-02-16	2020 DW	0.001612 AU (241,200 km; 149,800 mi)	0.628	2.2–4.9	30.4	—	data · 2020 DW
2020-02-25	2020-02-27	2020 DR₄	0.000622 AU (93,000 km; 57,800 mi)	0.242	3.0–6.7	29.8	—	data · 2020 DR₄
2020-03-14	2020-03-17	2020 FD₂	0.002190 AU (327,600 km; 203,600 mi)	0.852	19–43	25.7	—	data · 2020 FD₂
2020-03-18	2020-03-16	2020 FD	0.001714 AU (256,400 km; 159,300 mi)	0.667	7.8–17	27.7	✓	data · 2020 FD
2020-03-19	2020-03-23	2020 FG₄	0.001262 AU (188,800 km; 117,300 mi)	0.491	11–25	26.9	—	data · 2020 FG₄
2020-03-22	2020-03-19	2020 FL₂	0.000987 AU (147,700 km; 91,700 mi)	0.384	16–36	26.1	—	data · 2020 FL₂
2020-03-25	2020-03-24	2020 FJ₄	0.001716 AU (256,700 km; 159,500 mi)	0.668	3.3–7.5	29.5	—	data · 2020 FJ₄
2020-03-31	2020-03-31	2020 FB₇	0.000521 AU (77,900 km; 48,400 mi)	0.203	16–36	26.1	—	data · 2020 FB₇
2020-04-01	2020-04-02	2020 GO₁	0.000461 AU (69,000 km; 42,900 mi)	0.180	8.0–18	27.6	—	data · 2020 GO₁
2020-04-03	2020-04-02	2020 GH	0.000837 AU (125,200 km; 77,800 mi)	0.326	4.2–9.4	29.0	—	data · 2020 GH
2020-04-05	2020-04-05	2020 GY₁	0.000537 AU (80,300 km; 49,900 mi)	0.209	13–28	26.6	—	data · 2020 GY₁
2020-04-15	2020-04-16	2020 HO	0.001929 AU (288,600 km; 179,300 mi)	0.751	5.1–11	28.6	—	data · 2020 HO
2020-04-15	2020-04-11	2020 GH₂	0.002401 AU (359,200 km; 223,200 mi)	0.934	13–28	26.6	—	data · 2020 GH₂
2020-04-22	2020-04-24	2020 HM₆	0.001088 AU (162,800 km; 101,100 mi)	0.424	13–28	26.6	✓	data · 2020 HM₆
2020-04-22	2020-04-23	2020 HF₅	0.000979 AU (146,500 km; 91,000 mi)	0.381	12–27	26.7	—	data · 2020 HF₅
2020-04-22	2020-04-23	2020 HU₇	0.000869 AU (130,000 km; 80,800 mi)	0.338	3.1–6.8	29.7	—	data · 2020 HU₇
2020-04-24	2020-04-19	2020 HX₃	0.001688 AU (252,500 km; 156,900 mi)	0.657	9.7–22	27.2	✓	data · 2020 HX₃
2020-04-26	2020-04-27	2020 HT₈	0.000986 AU (147,500 km; 91,700 mi)	0.384	5.1–11	28.6	—	data · 2020 HT₈
2020-04-27	2020-04-22	2020 HP₆	0.000841 AU (125,800 km; 78,200 mi)	0.327	6.7–15	28.0	—	data · 2020 HP₆
2020-04-28	2020-04-27	2020 HS7	0.000286 AU (42,800 km; 26,600 mi)	0.111	4.0–9.0	29.1	—	data · 2020 HS₇
2020-04-30	2020-05-02	2020 JG	0.001430 AU (213,900 km; 132,900 mi)	0.556	18–41	25.8	✓	data · 2020 JG
2020-05-03	2020-05-01	2020 JA	0.001598 AU (239,100 km; 148,500 mi)	0.622	9.7–22	27.2	—	data · 2020 JA
2020-05-04	2020-05-04	2020 JJ	0.000090 AU (13,500 km; 8,400 mi)	0.03	2.8–6.2	29.9	—	data · 2020 JJ
2020-05-05	2020-05-04	2020 JV₃₈	0.001402 AU (209,700 km; 130,300 mi)	0.546	8.2–18	27.6	✓	data · 2020 JV₃₈
2020-05-05	2020-05-04	2020 JN	0.001666 AU (249,200 km; 154,900 mi)	0.648	8.8–20	27.4	✓	data · 2020 JN
2020-05-09	2021-04-04^{[note 5]}	2021 GM₁	0.001814 AU (271,400 km; 168,600 mi)	0.706	2.2–4.9	30.4	✓	data · 2021 GM₁
2020-05-28	2020-05-26	2020 KF₅	0.001649 AU (246,700 km; 153,300 mi)	0.642	3.5–7.8	29.4	—	data · 2020 KF₅
2020-05-28	2020-05-24	2020 KJ₄	0.000959 AU (143,500 km; 89,100 mi)	0.373	2.8–6.2	29.9	—	data · 2020 KJ₄
2020-05-29	2020-05-26	2020 KC₅	0.002470 AU (369,500 km; 229,600 mi)	0.961	8.8–20	27.4	—	data · 2020 KC₅
2020-06-05	2020-06-07	2020 LD	0.002048 AU (306,400 km; 190,400 mi)	0.797	89–200	22.4	—	data · 2020 LD
2020-06-13	2020-06-16	2020 ML₂	0.002378 AU (355,700 km; 221,000 mi)	0.926	7.0–16	27.9	—	data · 2020 ML₂
2020-06-23	2020-06-23	2020 ME₆₃	0.001052 AU (157,400 km; 97,800 mi)	0.410	1.1–2.5	31.9	—	data · 2020 ME₆₃
2020-07-05	2020-07-06	2020 NB	0.001193 AU (178,500 km; 110,900 mi)	0.464	15–35	26.2	—	data · 2020 NB
2020-07-09	2020-07-09	2020 NW₈	0.000648 AU (96,900 km; 60,200 mi)	0.252	0.84–1.9	32.5	—	data · 2020 NW₈
2020-07-27	2020-07-26	2020 OY4	0.000277 AU (41,400 km; 25,700 mi)	0.108	2.3–5.1	30.4	—	data · 2020 OY₄
2020-08-01	2020-08-01	2020 PA	0.000387 AU (57,900 km; 36,000 mi)	0.151	4.5–10	28.8	—	data · 2020 PA
2020-08-11	2020-08-14	2020 PX₅	0.001526 AU (228,300 km; 141,900 mi)	0.594	3.3–7.3	29.6	—	data · 2020 PX₅
2020-08-12	2020-08-22	2020 QJ₅	0.001976 AU (295,600 km; 183,700 mi)	0.769	12–27	26.7	—	data · 2020 QJ₅
2020-08-14	2020-08-14	2020 PW₂	0.001867 AU (279,300 km; 173,500 mi)	0.727	4.6–10	28.8	—	data · 2020 PW₂
2020-08-16	2020-08-16	2020 QG	0.000062 AU (9,300 km; 5,800 mi)	0.024	2.8–6.2	29.9	—	data · 2020 QG
2020-08-18	2020-08-18	2020 QF₂	0.001402 AU (209,700 km; 130,300 mi)	0.546	7.0–16	27.9	—	data · 2020 QF₂
2020-08-20	2020-08-14	2020 PY₂	0.002342 AU (350,400 km; 217,700 mi)	0.911	13–30	26.5	✓	data · 2020 PY₂
2020-08-20	2020-08-20	2020 QY₂	0.000445 AU (66,600 km; 41,400 mi)	0.173	1.5–3.4	31.2	—	data · 2020 QY₂
2020-08-21	2020-08-22	2020 QN₄	0.001821 AU (272,400 km; 169,300 mi)	0.709	5.1–11	28.6	—	data · 2020 QN₄
2020-08-22	2020-08-23	2020 QQ₄	0.002062 AU (308,500 km; 191,700 mi)	0.802	4.6–10	28.8	—	data · 2020 QQ₄
2020-08-23	2020-08-25	2020 QR₅	0.002144 AU (320,700 km; 199,300 mi)	0.835	9.0–20	27.3	—	data · 2020 QR₅
2020-08-26	2020-08-26	2020 QK₁₁₁	0.000901 AU (134,800 km; 83,800 mi)	0.351	2.9–6.5	29.8	—	data · 2020 QK₁₁₁
2020-09-09	2020-09-12	2020 RE₅	0.001639 AU (245,200 km; 152,400 mi)	0.638	4.0–9.0	29.1	—	data · 2020 RE₅
2020-09-10	2020-09-13	2020 RG₁₀	0.000909 AU (136,000 km; 84,500 mi)	0.354	4.6–10	28.8	—	data · 2020 RG₁₀
2020-09-13	2020-09-17	2020 SP	0.002220 AU (332,100 km; 206,400 mi)	0.864	10–23	27.1	—	data · 2020 SP
2020-09-14	2020-09-12	2020 RF₃	0.000629 AU (94,100 km; 58,500 mi)	0.245	5.3–12	28.5	—	data · 2020 RF₃
2020-09-14	2020-09-12	2020 RD₄	0.000707 AU (105,800 km; 65,700 mi)	0.275	3.1–6.8	29.7	—	data · 2020 RD₄
2020-09-17	2020-09-15	2020 RZ₆	0.002272 AU (339,900 km; 211,200 mi)	0.884	13–29	26.5	—	data · 2020 RZ₆
2020-09-19	2020-09-20	2020 SZ₂	0.002449 AU (366,400 km; 227,600 mi)	0.953	3.5–7.8	29.4	—	data · 2020 SZ₂
2020-09-23	2020-09-26	2020 SG₆	0.001486 AU (222,300 km; 138,100 mi)	0.578	3.7–8.2	29.3	—	data · 2020 SG₆
2020-09-24	2020-09-18	2020 SW	0.000188 AU (28,100 km; 17,500 mi)	0.073	4.1–9.2	29.1	—	data · 2020 SW
2020-09-24	2020-09-25	2020 SN₅	0.001347 AU (201,500 km; 125,200 mi)	0.524	6.3–14	28.1	—	data · 2020 SN₅
2020-09-26	2020-09-23	2020 SQ₄	0.002363 AU (353,500 km; 219,700 mi)	0.920	4.4–9.8	28.9	—	data · 2020 SQ₄
2020-10-01	2020-10-04	2020 TA	0.001475 AU (220,700 km; 137,100 mi)	0.574	21–47	25.5	—	data · 2020 TA
2020-10-09	2020-10-10	2020 TE₅	0.000380 AU (56,800 km; 35,300 mi)	0.148	4.2–9.3	29.0	—	data · 2020 TE₅
2020-10-12	2020-10-08	2020 TS₁	0.001704 AU (254,900 km; 158,400 mi)	0.663	3.8–8.6	29.2	—	data · 2020 TS₁
2020-10-13	2020-10-15	2020 TD₇	0.002273 AU (340,000 km; 211,300 mi)	0.885	12–26	26.8	—	data · 2020 TD₇
2020-10-14	2020-10-15	2020 TK₇	0.000503 AU (75,200 km; 46,800 mi)	0.196	3.2–7.0	29.6	—	data · 2020 TK₇
2020-10-15	2020-10-17	2020 UE	0.001821 AU (272,400 km; 169,300 mi)	0.709	21–46	25.5	✓	data · 2020 UE
2020-10-17	2020-10-15	2020 TG₆	0.000929 AU (139,000 km; 86,400 mi)	0.361	4.0–9.0	29.1	—	data · 2020 TG₆
2020-10-18	2020-10-15	2020 TE₆	0.001539 AU (230,200 km; 143,100 mi)	0.599	8.4–19	27.5	✓	data · 2020 TE₆
2020-10-19	2020-10-17	2020 UX	0.001268 AU (189,700 km; 117,900 mi)	0.493	1.6–3.5	31.1	—	data · 2020 UX
2020-10-19	2020-10-15	2020 TF₁	0.001026 AU (153,500 km; 95,400 mi)	0.399	8.0–18	27.6	—	data · 2020 TF₆
2020-10-21	2020-10-16	2020 UA	0.000297 AU (44,400 km; 27,600 mi)	0.116	5.5–12	28.4	—	data · 2020 UA
2020-10-21	2020-10-17	2020 UY	0.002347 AU (351,100 km; 218,200 mi)	0.913	4.2–9.4	29.0	—	data · 2020 UY
2020-10-22	2020-10-21	2020 UO₃	0.002343 AU (350,500 km; 217,800 mi)	0.912	6.0–13	28.2	✓	data · 2020 UO₃
2020-10-22	2020-10-21	2020 UF₃	0.000289 AU (43,200 km; 26,900 mi)	0.112	5.6–13	28.4	—	data · 2020 UF₃
2020-11-02	2020-11-05	2020 VW	0.001480 AU (221,400 km; 137,600 mi)	0.576	5.7–13	28.4	—	data · 2020 VW
2020-11-06	2020-11-10	2020 VO₁	0.001158 AU (173,200 km; 107,600 mi)	0.451	6.7–15	28.0	—	data · 2020 VO₁
2020-11-09	2020-11-09	2020 VR₁	0.002540 AU (380,000 km; 236,100 mi)	0.989	4.3–9.7	28.9	—	data · 2020 VR₁
2020-11-11	2020-11-10	2020 VP₁	0.001225 AU (183,300 km; 113,900 mi)	0.477	7.8–17	27.7	✓	data · 2020 VP₁
2020-11-13	2020-11-14	2020 VT4	0.000045 AU (6,700 km; 4,200 mi)^{[note 6]}	0.018	4.3–9.7	28.6	—	data · 2020 VT₄
2020-11-13	2020-11-13	2020 VH₅	0.001691 AU (253,000 km; 157,200 mi)	0.658	3.8–8.5	29.2	—	data · 2020 VH₅
2020-11-24	2020-11-25	2020 WY₄	0.000746 AU (111,600 km; 69,300 mi)	0.290	4.4–9.9	28.9	—	data · 2020 WY₄
2020-11-26	2020-11-27	2020 WG₅	0.002416 AU (361,400 km; 224,600 mi)	0.940	7.5–17	27.8	—	data · 2020 WG₅
2020-11-26	2020-11-27	2020 WF₅	0.001345 AU (201,200 km; 125,000 mi)	0.524	7.4–17	27.8	—	data · 2020 WF₅
2020-11-30	2020-12-04	2020 XC	0.000810 AU (121,200 km; 75,300 mi)	0.315	4.1–9.2	29.0	✓	data · 2020 XC
2020-12-01	2020-12-04	2020 XE	0.001991 AU (297,800 km; 185,100 mi)	0.775	15–34	26.2	✓	data · 2020 XE
2020-12-03	2020-12-05	2020 XE₁	0.002184 AU (326,700 km; 203,000 mi)	0.850	12–27	26.7	✓	data · 2020 XE₁
2020-12-03	2020-12-05	2020 XF	0.000593 AU (88,700 km; 55,100 mi)	0.231	11–25	26.8	—	data · 2020 XF
2020-12-03	2020-11-14	2020 VZ₆	0.002333 AU (349,000 km; 216,900 mi)	0.908	27–59	25.0	✓	data · 2020 VZ₆
2020-12-07	2020-12-07	2020 XK₁	0.000139 AU (20,800 km; 12,900 mi)	0.054	2.0–4.5	30.6	—	data · 2020 XK₁
2020-12-08	2020-12-07	2020 XG₂	0.000327 AU (48,900 km; 30,400 mi)	0.127	7.0–16	27.9	—	data · 2020 XG₂
2020-12-16	2020-12-10	2020 XF₄	0.002293 AU (343,000 km; 213,100 mi)	0.892	8.1–18	27.6	✓	data · 2020 XF₄
2020-12-18	2020-12-10	2020 XX₃	0.000381 AU (57,000 km; 35,400 mi)	0.148	5.4–12	28.5	—	data · 2020 XX₃
2020-12-19	2020-12-21	2020 YR₂	0.001153 AU (172,500 km; 107,200 mi)	0.449	5.8–13	28.3	—	data · 2020 YR₂
2020-12-20	2020-12-21	2020 YS₂	0.000582 AU (87,100 km; 54,100 mi)	0.226	1.6–3.6	31.1	—	data · 2020 YS₂
2020-12-21	2020-12-21	2020 YJ₂	0.002292 AU (342,900 km; 213,100 mi)	0.892	9.0–20	27.4	—	data · 2020 YJ₂
2020-12-28	2020-12-27	2020 YS₄	0.000645 AU (96,500 km; 60,000 mi)	0.251	7.5–17	27.8	—	data · 2020 YS₄

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. It shows the effectiveness of asteroid warning systems at detecting close approaches in 2020. 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)

Silhouette of man standing and facing forward

(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 36 > H ≥ 25

Absolute magnitude 25 > H (largest)

After closest approach: 1 (100.0%)
< 24 hours before: 0 (0.0%)
up to 7 days before: 0 (0.0%)
> one week before: 0 (0.0%)
> 7 weeks before: 0 (0.0%)
> one year before: 0 (0.0%)

Predicted close approaches

Below is the list of predicted close approaches of near-Earth asteroids larger than magnitude 27, that were predicted to occur in 2020.^{[note 1]} This relates to asteroid cataloging systems effectiveness at predicting close approaches in 2020.

For asteroids which were observed but not predicted, see the main list above. In 2020, at the outset of the year, no asteroids were predicted to pass within 1 lunar distance of Earth. Table omitted.

Notes

^ ^a ^b Absolute magnitude 27 is the estimated magnitude of the Chelyabinsk meteor, which caused widespread damage and injury, but no deaths. Objects smaller than this are excluded.
^ 2020 FD₂ passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 33.4 km/s and was moving away from the Sun at 38.6 km/s.
^ 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 (0.0166 LD).
^ Objects that approached closer to the Moon than Earth are marked with a check.
^ Precovery around this close approach: 2020-05-26
^ As of February 2025^[update], the closest approach ever observed without atmospheric contact

Additional examples

An example list of near-Earth asteroids that passed or will pass more than 1 lunar distance (384,400 km or 0.00256 AU) from Earth in 2020.

Object	Size (meters)	Nearest approach (lunar distances)	Date	Ref
2020 BX12	165	11.34	2020-02-03	JPL · CAD
(163373) 2002 PZ₃₉	700	15.02	2020-02-15	JPL · CAD
(52768) 1998 OR2	1,750	16.36	2020-04-29	JPL · CAD
(388945) 2008 TZ₃	350	7.27	2020-05-10	JPL · CAD
(136795) 1997 BQ	1,000	16.02	2020-05-21	JPL · CAD
Planet Venus^{[note2 1]}	—	112.3	2020-06-03	JPL
(163348) 2002 NN4	613	13.25	2020-06-06	JPL · CAD
2013 XA₂₂	115	7.62	2020-06-08	JPL · CAD
(441987) 2010 NY₆₅	228	9.78	2020-06-24	JPL · CAD
(8014) 1990 MF	700	21.28	2020-07-23	JPL · CAD
2011 ES4	35	3.85	2020-09-02	JPL · CAD
2014 RC	22	38.58	2020-09-22	JPL · CAD
(159402) 1999 AP₁₀	2,600	31.39	2020-10-19	JPL · CAD
2020 VV	12	8.37	2020-10-21	JPL · CAD
2018 VP1	2-4	1.09+1.07 −11.06^{[note2 2]}	2020-11-02	JPL · CAD
(7753) 1988 XB	800	25.76	2020-11-22	JPL · CAD
(153201) 2000 WO107	600	11.19	2020-11-29	JPL · CAD
(501647) 2014 SD224	150	7.86	2020-12-25	JPL · CAD
162173 Ryugu	865	23.56	2020-12-29	JPL · CAD

Notes

^ For comparison
^ 2018 VP₁ could potentially pass less than 1 lunar distance to Earth, but the chances are fairly low and as such it was not listed in the main table unless followup observations confirm that it will pass less than 1 LD from Earth. A longer observation arc is required to constrain the orbit better. The Earth approach distance has an uncertainty of about 4 million km, ±3 days, and a 1:240 chance of impacting Earth.

References

^ "NEO Earth Close Approaches". NASA/JPL CNEOS. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
^ "New Data Confirm 2020 SO to be the Upper Centaur Rocket Booster from the 1960's". NASA. 2 December 2020.
^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2020 FD2)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser". JPL Solar System Dynamics. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
^ "MPC Database". IAU Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 1 January 2021.

[why-mag-27-1] Absolute magnitude 27 is the estimated magnitude of the Chelyabinsk meteor, which caused widespread damage and injury, but no deaths. Objects smaller than this are excluded.

[5] 2020 FD₂ passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 33.4 km/s and was moving away from the Sun at 38.6 km/s.

[6] 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 (0.0166 LD).

[7] Objects that approached closer to the Moon than Earth are marked with a check.

[10] Precovery around this close approach: 2020-05-26

[11] As of February 2025^[update], the closest approach ever observed without atmospheric contact

[venus-12] For comparison

[uncertainty-13] 2018 VP₁ could potentially pass less than 1 lunar distance to Earth, but the chances are fairly low and as such it was not listed in the main table unless followup observations confirm that it will pass less than 1 LD from Earth. A longer observation arc is required to constrain the orbit better. The Earth approach distance has an uncertainty of about 4 million km, ±3 days, and a 1:240 chance of impacting Earth.

[CNEOS-closeapp-2] "NEO Earth Close Approaches". NASA/JPL CNEOS. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

[NASA-20201202-3] "New Data Confirm 2020 SO to be the Upper Centaur Rocket Booster from the 1960's". NASA. 2 December 2020.

[JPL-2020FD2-4] "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2020 FD2)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

[nasa-jpl-ssd-database-8] "JPL Small-Body Database Browser". JPL Solar System Dynamics. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

[iau-mpc-db-9] "MPC Database". IAU Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 1 January 2021.

[note 1]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[note 2]

[note 3]

[note 4]

[4]

[5]

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[note 6]

[note2 1]

[note2 2]

v t e 2020 in space
« 2019 2021 »
Space probe launches	Solar Orbiter (Feb 2020) Hope (Jul 2020) Tianwen-1 (Jul 2020) Mars 2020 (Jul 2020) Perseverance rover Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Chang'e 5 (lunar sample return mission; Nov 2020)
Impact events	2020 China bolide
Selected NEOs	Asteroid close approaches 594913 ꞌAylóꞌchaxnim 2020 BX12 2020 CW 2020 CD3 (temporary satellite) (52768) 1998 OR2 2020 HS7 2020 JJ 2020 LD (163348) 2002 NN4 2020 OY4 2020 QG 2011 ES4 2018 VP1 2020 SO (space debris) 2020 SW 2020 SL1 2020 UA 2020 VV 2020 VT4 (153201) 2000 WO107 (501647) 2014 SD224 (614689) 2020 XL5
Exoplanets	AU Mic b Gliese 229 Ac Gliese 414 Ab Ac Gliese 433 b c d GJ 1151 b radio emissions K2-315b Kepler-1649c KOI-456.04 Lacaille 9352 b c M51-ULS-1b OGLE-2016-BLG-1928 (rogue planet) Tau Ceti j (predicted) TOI-561 b c d e TOI-700 b c d TOI-732 b c TOI-1338 b TOI-1339 b c d TYC 8998-760-1 c WD 1856+534 b
Discoveries	Betelgeuse dimming FRB 180916 location and periodicity Radcliffe wave Ophiuchus Supercluster explosion PSO J03094+27 (distant blazar) 2MASS J1047+21 wind speed measurements SGR 1935+2154 (soft gamma ray repeater) HR 6819 black hole hypothesis PHL 293B ending of P Cygni profile hydrogen emission lines Swift J1818.0–1607 (young magnetar) GW190814 (announced) South Pole Wall GW190521 (announced) Phosphine detection in the atmosphere of Venus Water detection on the sunlit surface of the Moon
Comets	C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) P/2019 LD2 (ATLAS) C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) C/2020 F8 (SWAN) C/2019 U6 (LEMMON) C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) 2P/Encke 88P/Howell 156P/Russell–LINEAR
Space exploration	Spitzer retirement (Jan 2020) BepiColombo (Earth gravity assist; Apr 2020, Venus gravity assist; Oct 2020) OSIRIS-REx (sample collection from asteroid Bennu; Oct 2020) Hayabusa2 (sample return from asteroid Ryugu; Dec 2020) Chang'e 5 (lunar sample return; Dec 2020)
Outer space portal Category:2019 in outer space — Category:2020 in outer space — Category:2021 in outer space

Timeline of known close approaches less than one lunar distance from Earth

Warning times by size

Predicted close approaches

Notes

Additional examples

Notes

See also

References