List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2018


Asteroids which came closer to Earth than the Moon in 2018 by time of discovery


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 from Earth in 2018, based on the close approach database of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies.
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. Five asteroids are confirmed to have passed within this distance, and unconfirmed or confirmed but poorly observed asteroids A106fgF, A107j4q, ZB0A262,, ZGBE54F, A1080DC, ZW87F01, and ZW900BE may have also passed within this distance.
The largest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2018 was 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 that passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of.
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 2018 LA, 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 2018 which weren't discovered in advance, but were observed visually or recorded by sensors designed to detect detonation of nuclear devices.
Date of
closest
approach
Date
discovered
ObjectNominal geocentric
distance
Nominal geocentric
distance
Size

Closer
approach
to Moon
Refs
2018-01-022018-01-042018 AH0.77377–17022.7
2018-01-152018-01-172018 BW0.4356.4–1428.1
2018-01-162018-01-170.3413.3–7.529.5
2018-01-182018-01-182018 BD0.1022.5–5.730.1
2018-01-192018-01-20'0.63217–3826.0
2018-01-192018-01-172018 BC0.7343.5–7.829.4
2018-01-192018-01-182018 BX0.7304–929.1
2018-01-202018-01-240.7886.1–1428.2
2018-01-242018-01-270.94312–2626.8
2018-02-042018-02-070.8966.1–1428.2
2018-02-062018-02-07'0.2536.7–1528.0
2018-02-062018-02-042018 CC0.49213–2826.6
2018-02-092018-02-08'0.1827.3–1627.8
2018-02-092018-02-042018 CB0.18118–3925.9
2018-02-162018-02-100.9245.1–1128.6
2018-02-212018-02-222018 DQ0.2614–929.1
2018-02-242018-02-260.5435.2–1228.5?
2018-02-252018-02-232018 DU0.7395.8–1328.3
2018-03-022018-02-26'0.2935.6–1228.4
2018-03-142018-03-120.56015–3426.6
2018-03-172018-03-190.5782.6–5.730.1
2018-03-182018-03-210.3819.7–2227.2
2018-03-192018-03-200.7275.1–1128.6
2018-03-232018-03-210.5018.1–1827.6
2018-03-302018-03-280.3915.8–1328.3
2018-04-072018-04-110.6885.3–1228.5
2018-04-102008-04-13 aka
0.7838–1827.6
2018-04-122018-04-110.7813.3–7.529.5
2018-04-152018-04-14'0.50246–10023.8
2018-04-212018-04-230.89318–4125.8
2018-04-222018-04-212018 HV0.4034.4–9.928.9
2018-05-092020-02-150.0671.2–2.731.7
2018-05-152010-11-30'0.52853–12023.5
2018-05-232018-05-220.3883.1–6.829.7
2018-05-262018-05-240.7799.7–2227.2
2018-06-152018-06-110.85813–3026.5
2018-06-162018-06-170.5414.6–1028.8
2018-07-072018-07-082018 NX0.3047.7–1727.7
2018-07-082018-07-082018 NW0.3247.3–1627.8
2018-08-102018-08-110.0878.8–2027.4
2018-08-212018-08-210.2309.5–2127.2
2018-09-032018-09-070.9452.7–630.0
2018-09-052018-09-062018 RS0.2762.7–5.930.0
2018-09-062018-09-070.9915.3–1228.5
2018-09-072018-09-090.4357.3–1627.8
2018-09-082018-09-072018 RW0.4452–4.530.6
2018-09-092018-09-032018 RC0.58427–6124.9
2018-09-122018-09-130.46713–2826.6
2018-09-122018-09-130.1293–6.829.7
2018-09-152018-09-162018 SM0.1113.5–7.829.4
2018-09-182018-09-172018 SC0.6996.7–1528.0
2018-09-252018-09-210.2295.1–1128.6
2018-09-302018-10-022018 TC0.79513–2826.6
2018-10-062018-10-050.2653.3–7.529.5
2018-10-072018-10-052018 TV0.7415.1–1128.6
2018-10-172018-10-182018 UL0.5753.8–8.629.2
2018-10-192018-10-192018 UA0.0362.4–5.430.2
2018-11-022018-11-030.3931.8–3.930.9
2018-11-052018-11-080.4815.3–1228.5
2018-11-062018-11-070.36712–2726.7
2018-11-102018-11-04 aka
0.9928.4–1927.5
2018-11-132018-11-100.8718.8–2027.4
2018-11-132018-11-160.6532.5–5.730.1
2018-11-142018-11-150.5175.1–1128.6
2018-11-162018-11-172018 WH0.4962.9–6.529.8
2018-11-162018-11-172018 WG0.0803.7–8.229.3
2018-11-182018-11-172018 WE0.6245.6–1228.4
2018-11-192018-11-172018 WJ0.3097–1627.9
2018-11-252018-11-260.27916–3626.1
2018-11-272018-11-280.2843.5–7.829.4
2018-11-282018-11-290.8396.7–1528.0
2018-11-302018-11-290.5202.5–5.730.1
2018-12-022018-11-290.0862.3–5.230.3
2018-12-112018-12-130.9694.2–9.429.0
2018-12-272018-12-280.1553.5–7.829.4
2018-12-282018-12-290.5102.9–6.529.8
2018-12-282019-01-030.43022–5025.4

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 of
closest
approach
Date
discovered
ObjectNominal geocentric
distance
Nominal geocentric
distance
Size

Closer
approach
to Moon
Refs
2018-01-222018-01-22A106fgFPotential Impact?0.00112–530.6
2018-01-252018-01-26ZB0A2620.162–530.6
2018-04-122018-04-13ZGBE54F0.182–730.0
2018-06-172018-06-17A107j4q0.0804–1128.9
2018-06-232018-06-24A107pL20.203–929.5
2018-07-042018-07-05ZN2E0900.514–1228.8
2018-08-122018-08-13A1080DC0.111–431.3
2018-10-062018-10-06ZTF01Z90.664–1228.8
2018-11-012018-11-010.112–530.6
2018-11-112018-11-110.403–1029.1
2018-11-152018-11-17ZW84BCD0.332–730.0
2018-11-162018-11-17ZW87F010.231–232.3
2018-11-282018-11-29ZW900BE0.0871–431.2
2018-12-302018-12-310.282–729.8

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

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 '''

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 of
closest
approach
ObjectNominal lunocentric
distance
Nominal lunocentric
distance
Size

approach
distance
to Earth
Refs
2018-01-152018 BW0.825–1728.10.43
2018-01-192018 BD0.482–630.20.10
2018-01-200.725–1528.30.79
2018-01-24ZB0A2620.572–530.60.16
2018-02-032018 CT0.9715–4725.81.69
2018-02-06'0.794–2028.00.25
2018-02-240.504–1428.40.55
2018-03-01'0.354–1528.40.29
2018-03-140.5310–3426.50.56
2018-03-170.732–730.10.58
2018-03-170.468–2727.10.38
2018-03-300.614–1628.30.39
2018-04-130.863–929.40.78
2018-04-15'0.3437–13823.60.50
2018-05-230.573–829.70.39
2018-06-022018 LA0.832–330.5Impact
2018-06-160.204–1128.80.54
2018-06-17A107j4p0.9954–1128.90.080
2018-06-23A107pL20.813–929.50.20
2018-07-022018 NH0.4324–8824.61.13
2018-07-05ZN2E0900.654–1228.80.51
2018-07-072018 NX0.597–1827.70.30
2018-07-082018 NW0.646–1827.80.32
2018-07-240.288–2127.41.14
2018-08-040.719–3326.71.07
2018-08-10'0.467–2227.40.087
2018-08-120.691–431.30.11
2018-08-150.456–1727.91.32
2018-08-19ZTF00VP0.583–1129.01.12
2018-09-030.9902–729.80.95
2018-09-052018 RS0.852–1229.50.28
2018-09-070.786–1927.80.44
2018-09-082018 RW0.9972–730.30.44
2018-09-102018 RC0.9523–8724.60.58
2018-09-120.522-829.70.13
2018-09-152018 SM0.733-929.40.11
2018-09-150.892–729.90.51
2018-09-190.6014–5025.81.37
2018-09-240.754-1228.60.23
2018-10-060.293–929.50.27
2018-10-172018 UL0.393–1129.10.57
2018-10-192018 UA0.742–630.20.036
2018-11-010.842–530.60.11
2018-11-030.5113–3626.21.13
2018-11-042018 WS0.8911–3426.51.74
2018-11-050.969–3326.70.37
2018-11-06ZV33FBC0.579–2826.90.57
2018-11-140.484–1228.60.52
2018-11-150.952–730.00.65
2018-11-15ZW87F010.761–232.30.23
2018-11-162018 WH0.832–829.80.50
2018-11-182018 WE0.524–1628.30.62
2018-11-192018 WJ0.896–2627.50.31
2018-11-250.5512–5126.00.28
2018-11-25ZTF01p20.9610–3126.71.47
2018-11-250.774–1428.51.18
2018-11-270.883–929.40.28
2018-11-28ZW900BE0.9931–431.20.087
2018-12-050.882–630.20.086
2018-12-080.685–1628.11.009
2018-12-110.613–1129.10.97
2018-12-270.513–1029.30.15
2018-12-300.982–729.80.28

Additional examples

An example list of near-Earth asteroids that passed more than 1 lunar distance from Earth in 2018.
ObjectSize
meters
lunar
distances
DateRef
'62410.92018-02-04
3752 Camillo230653.62018-02-20
'2713.762018-03-07
1981 Midas340034.92018-03-21
461.702018-04-08
2856.482018-05-09
3599.502018-05-29
'86015.52018-06-21
2018 NL321.422018-06-28
(4953) 1990 MU280041.62018-11-29
624.092018-12-09
'8007.362018-12-22

Virtual Impactors

List of asteroids that are listed on the Sentry Risk Table because they have short observation arcs with poorly constrained orbits and have a chance of impacting Earth in 2018. Given a short observation arc, many different orbits fit the observed data. These objects could be millions if not billions of kilometers from Earth on the date of a low probability virtual impactor. For example, is expected to be from Earth in December 2018 around the time of the 3 virtual impactors. 2010 GZ60 was removed from the sentry table in February 2018 after further observations were found by NEOWISE, ruling out any possible impacts.
Cumulatively among the asteroids listed below, there is a roughly 1 in 98,700 chance that any of the asteroids will impact Earth in 2018. Most of this comes from asteroid 2008 US which is only ~2 meters in diameter and had a 1 in 240,000 chance of impact on 18 April 2018.
Also included are asteroids discovered before impact and exceptionally massive fireballs with either an equivalent yield of more than 1 kiloton of TNT or an estimated size of more than 3 meters.
DateObjectEstimated
diameter
Obs
arc

Impact
probability
Sigma from
best-fit orbit
Palermo
scale
JPL Horizons
nominal geocentric
distance
NEODyS
nominal geocentric
distance
2018-01-3190.182,100,000,0000.994-7.87
2018-02-1090.071370,000,0000.039-8.38
2018-02-1590.18100,000,000-2.100-7.70
2018-02-1590.18140,000,000-1.183-7.82
2018-02-1790.18120,000,000-0.465-7.67
2018-02-2490.043110,000,0000.948-7.63
2018-02-2590.0712,000,000-0.690-6.26
2018-02-261571.02,100,000,0000.096-5.47
2018-02-2690.12290,000,000-2.389-8.34
2018-03-0140.0401,100,000,0000.697-9.01
2018-03-0990.0711,700,000,0001.232-8.05
2018-03-1090.0711,100,000,0000.806-8.35
2018-03-11543.12,400,0001.438-3.72
2018-03-1190.0712,900,0000.544-6.01
2018-03-11100.113,400,0001.198-6.09
2018-03-21220.972,000,000,0003.436-7.94
2018-03-225370.931,900,000,0000.195-4.68
2018-04-08161.01,900,000,0000.196-8.19
2018-04-10190.1691,000,0000.155-6.86
2018-04-182008 US20.081240,0000.253-6.56
2018-04-19N/A 4N/A10.0000N/A
N/A
2018-04-24360.12310,000,0000.687-6.63
2018-04-29190.16210,000,000-0.099-7.67
2018-04-3040.97710,000-1.705-6.18
2018-05-042008 LE220.14270,000,000-0.137-7.01
2018-05-0890.043210,000,0001.159-7.45
2018-05-17490.083480,000,0001.108-6.64
2018-06-022018 LA30.1610.000>0

2018-06-0350.045910,000-0.349-5.67
2018-06-0350.045670,0000.067-6.10
2018-06-0450.045340,000,0000.474-9.17
2018-06-21N/A 5N/A10.0000N/A
N/A
2018-06-221571.0500,000,000-0.333-5.62
2018-07-25N/A 3N/A10.0000N/A
N/A
2018-08-12161.0310,000,000-0.816-7.79
2018-08-194991.8560,000,0000.768-4.13
2018-08-30100.116,200,000,0002.277-9.63
2018-09-07100.11170,000,0001.084-7.95
2018-09-10100.1191,000,0000.297-7.56
2018-09-11100.11120,000,000-0.315-7.56
2018-09-11100.11710,000,000-1.258-8.14
2018-09-12100.11220,000,000-0.824-7.72
2018-09-12100.117,700,000,000-2.041-8.91
2018-09-12100.111,800,000,000-1.660-8.39
2018-09-13311.01,400,000,000-1.839-7.55
2018-09-18233.01,100,000,0001.918-7.98
2018-09-191571.0770,000,000-0.337-5.87
2018-09-20310.6014,000,0000.453-5.77
2018-09-25N/A 4N/A10.0000N/A
N/A
2018-09-261571.02,400,000,0000.029-6.09
2018-10-02370.9753,000,0000.328-6.08
2018-10-2220.0313,300,000,000-0.299-11.2
2018-10-27140.962,100,000,000-1.613-8.25
2018-10-28140.96500,000,000-0.177-7.92
2018-10-30140.968,300,000,0001.972-9.43
2018-11-012008 VL90.12710,000,0001.279-8.27
2018-11-1290.04377,000,000-0.297-7.79
2018-11-1290.043770,000,000-0.704-8.26
2018-11-1260.04656,000,0000.822-8.27
2018-11-1290.04332,000,0000.008-7.61
2018-11-1260.0461,900,000,0002.113-9.46
2018-11-1690.04367,000,0000.981-7.60
2018-11-16490.08310,000,000,0001.753-7.73
2018-11-20N/A 3N/A10.0000N/A
N/A
2018-11-29490.0831,300,000,0000.856-7.42
2018-12-112010 XC50.05840,000,000-0.250-8.27
2018-12-13511.92,000,000,0000.455-7.48
2018-12-14180.066710,000,0001.218-7.87
2018-12-14132.8830,000,0000.401-7.75
2018-12-15511.9450,000,000-0.856-6.64
2018-12-16132.8230,000,0000.147-7.53
2018-12-17? 1.4 N/A N/A N/A Not listed
2018-12-18132.891,000,000-0.252-7.51
2018-12-182311.41,000,000,000-0.262-5.14
2018-12-18N/A 12N/A10.0000N/A
N/A
2018-12-20511.93,400,000,000-1.991-7.29
2018-12-22132.8200,000,000-1.085-8.38
2018-12-232013 YB20.1617,000,0003.754-9.06
2018-12-2690.0713,200,000,000-0.855-9.74
2018-12-29190.162,800,000,0000.411-8.06
2018-12-30190.166,200,000,0000.502-8.22