List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2016
| Asteroids which came closer to Earth than the Moon in 2016 by time of discovery |
Below is the list of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2016.
Timeline of known close approaches less than one Lunar distance from Earth in 2016
A list of known near-Earth asteroid close approaches less than 1 lunar distance from Earth in 2016, 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.
The orbit of geosynchronous satellites, however, is or 0.110 Lunar distances. This year, 6 asteroids traveled nearer than this, most notably, which approached a mere 1.25 Earth radii from the surface.
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 would only be included if the object was found by precovery, but there was no such close approach in 2016.
This list and relevant databases do not consider impacts as close approaches, thus this list does not include any of the 32 objects that collided with Earth's atmosphere in 2016, none of which were discovered in advance, but were observed visually or recorded by sensors designed to detect detonation of nuclear devices.
| Date of closest approach | Date discovered | Object | Nominal geocentric distance | Nominal geocentric distance | Size | Closer approach to Moon | |
| 2016-01-10 | 2016-01-12 | 0.27 | 2.9–6.5 | 29.8 | |||
| 2016-01-12 | 2016-01-13 | 0.07 | 3.1–6.8 | 29.7 | |||
| 2016-01-13 | 2016-01-14 | 0.47 | 7.7–17 | 27.7 | |||
| 2016-01-14 | 2016-01-14 | 0.10 | 2.2–4.9 | 30.4 | |||
| 2016-02-06 | 2016-02-03 | 0.39 | 5.3–12 | 28.5 | |||
| 2016-02-10 | 2016-02-11 | 0.55 | 2.9–6.5 | 29.8 | |||
| 2016-02-13 | 2016-02-12 | 0.20 | 7.7–17 | 27.7 | |||
| 2016-02-15 | 2016-02-16 | 2016 DB | 0.32 | 5.3–12 | 28.5 | ||
| 2016-02-25 | 2016-02-26 | 0.04 | 2.1–4.7 | 30.5 | |||
| 2016-02-26 | 2016-02-27 | 0.83 | 4.4–9.9 | 28.9 | |||
| 2016-02-29 | 2016-02-28 | 0.52 | 2.8–6.2 | 29.9 | Yes | ||
| 2016-03-03 | 2016-03-02 | 0.53 | 4–9 | 29.1 | Yes | ||
| 2016-03-04 | 2016-03-03 | 0.60 | 7.3–16 | 27.8 | |||
| 2016-03-08 | 2016-03-07 | 0.40 | 5.4–15 | 28.5 | |||
| 2016-03-10 | 2016-03-11 | 0.84 | 6.7–15 | 28.0 | |||
| 2016-03-11 | 2016-03-15 | 0.08 | 21–47 | 25.5 | |||
| 2016-03-14 | 2016-03-16 | 0.44 | 4–9 | 29.1 | |||
| 2016-03-23 | 2016-03-30 | 0.98 | 5.8–13 | 28.3 | Yes | ||
| 2016-03-25 | 2016-03-27 | 0.47 | 4.4–9.9 | 28.9 | |||
| 2016-03-28 | 2016-03-31 | 0.70 | 4.6–10 | 28.8 | Yes | ||
| 2016-04-01 | 2016-04-05 | 0.52 | 7.7–17 | 27.7 | |||
| 2016-04-04 | 2016-04-05 | 0.15 | 2.3–5.1 | 30.3 | |||
| 2016-04-05 | 2016-03-30 | 0.82 | 3.3–7.5 | 29.5 | |||
| 2016-04-06 | 2016-04-09 | 0.86 | 15–33 | 26.3 | |||
| 2016-04-08 | 2016-04-06 | 0.86 | 8–18 | 27.6 | |||
| 2016-05-05 | 2016-05-03 | 0.53 | 1.9–4.3 | 30.7 | |||
| 2016-06-04 | 2016-06-10 | 0.91 | 8.8–20 | 27.4 | Yes | ||
| 2016-06-07 | 2016-06-04 | 0.38 | 4.2–9.4 | 29.0 | |||
| 2016-06-09 | 2016-06-08 | 0.19 | 3.7–8.2 | 29.3 | |||
| 2016-07-07 | 2016-07-09 | 0.74 | 5.6–12 | 28.4 | |||
| 2016-07-11 | 2016-07-09 | 0.69 | 4.2–9.4 | 29.0 | |||
| 2016-08-28 | 2016-08-27 | 0.23 | 25–57 | 25.1 | |||
| 2016-09-02 | 2016-09-04 | 0.34 | 6.7–15 | 28.0 | |||
| 2016-09-03 | 2016-09-04 | 0.50 | 3.8–8.6 | 29.2 | |||
| 2016-09-07 | 2016-09-05 | 0.11 | 5.8–13 | 28.3 | |||
| 2016-09-11 | 2016-09-11 | 0.06 | 1.7–3.7 | 31.0 | |||
| 2016-09-21 | 2016-09-22 | 2016 SJ | 0.39 | 4.2–9.4 | 29.0 | ||
| 2016-09-24 | 2016-09-26 | 0.91 | 8–18 | 27.6 | |||
| 2016-09-25 | 2016-09-26 | 0.80 | 6.3–14 | 28.1 | |||
| 2016-09-30 | 2016-10-01 | 2016 TD | 0.59 | 6.4–14 | 28.1 | ||
| 2016-10-03 | 2016-10-02 | 2016 TH | 0.33 | 3.5–7.8 | 29.4 | ||
| 2016-10-08 | 2016-10-09 | 0.56 | 3.1–7 | 29.7 | |||
| 2016-10-10 | 2016-10-11 | 0.20 | 7.3–16 | 27.8 | |||
| 2016-10-11 | 2016-10-09 | 0.82 | 4–9 | 29.1 | |||
| 2016-10-17 | 2016-10-19 | 2016 UD | 0.19 | 13–28 | 26.6 | ||
| 2016-11-02 | 2016-11-01 | 2016 VA | 0.25 | 8–18 | 27.6 | ||
| 2016-11-07 | 2016-11-05 | 0.70 | 5.1–11 | 28.6 | |||
| 2016-11-10 | 2016-11-11 | 0.18 | 2.8–6.3 | 29.9 | |||
| 2016-11-17 | 2016-11-18 | 2016 WT | 0.50 | 2.9–6.5 | 29.8 | ||
| 2016-11-21 | 2016-11-23 | 0.95 | 5.1–11 | 28.6 | |||
| 2016-11-25 | 2016-11-24 | 0.35 | 5.1–9.2 | 29.0 | |||
| 2016-11-30 | 2016-12-01 | 0.23 | 3.7–8.3 | 29.3 |
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 | Object | Nominal geocentric distance | Nominal geocentric distance | Size | Closer approach to Moon | |
| 2016-02-11 | 2016-??-?? | P10tI8h | 0.69 | 2–3 | 30.7 | ? | |
| 2016-03-28 | 2016-03-31 | aka BeUc1Ig | 0.99 | 3–9 | 29.3 | ? | |
| 2016-04-01 | 2016-04-02 | aka XGB1CE8 | 0.13 | 3–9 | 29.3 | ? | |
| 2016-08-09 | 2016-08-16 | DT16P09 | 0.17 | 1–3 | 32.9 | ? | |
| 2016-10-14 | 2016-10-20 | XT9D939 | 0.94 | 7–20 | 27.7 | ||
| 2016-10-19 | 2016-11-06 | XUA7AB3 | 0.91 | 4–13 | 28.6 | ||
| 2016-11-05 | 2016-11-14 | XV88D4F | 0.095 | 2–7 | 30.0 |
Warning times by size
This sub-section visualizes 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
None
Timeline of close approaches less than one Lunar distance from the Moon in 2016
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 easier to discover during the new Moon, when the Moon is too close to the Sun to detect asteroids while they are near the Moon.
| Date of closest approach | Object | Nominal lunocentric distance | Nominal lunocentric distance | Size | approach distance to Earth | |
| 2016-01-01 | 0.83 | 7–24 | 27.3 | 1.45 | ||
| 2016-01-10 | 0.49 | 2–7 | 29.9 | 0.27 | ||
| 2016-01-11 | 0.25 | 3–7 | 29.7 | 0.069 | ||
| 2016-02-07 | 0.55 | 3–16 | 28.5 | 0.39 | ||
| 2016-02-10 | 0.76 | 2–7 | 29.8 | 0.56 | ||
| 2016-02-13 | 0.79 | 7–21 | 27.5 | 0.20 | ||
| 2016-02-26 | 0.74 | 2–5 | 30.5 | 0.037 | ||
| 2016-02-29 | 0.49 | 2–7 | 29.9 | 0.52 | ||
| 2016-03-03 | 0.39 | 2–9 | 29.1 | 0.53 | ||
| 2016-03-04 | 0.61 | 5–20 | 27.8 | 0.60 | ||
| 2016-03-05 | 0.998 | 3–10 | 29.1 | 1.14 | ||
| 2016-03-08 | 0.45 | 4–10 | 28.5 | 0.40 | ||
| 2016-03-09 | 0.89 | 5–9 | 28.0 | 0.84 | ||
| 2016-03-10 | 0.62 | 16–31 | 25.5 | 0.082 | ||
| 2016-03-14 | 0.51 | 4–8 | 29.1 | 0.44 | ||
| 2016-03-21 | 0.995 | 35–86 | 24.2 | 0.9995 | ||
| 2016-03-24 | 0.37 | 4–10 | 28.3 | 0.98 | ||
| 2016-03-26 | 0.83 | 4–9 | 28.9 | 0.47 | ||
| 2016-03-28 | 0.48 | 4–12 | 28.8 | 0.70 | ||
| 2016-04-03 | 0.90 | 10–31 | 26.7 | 1.23 | ||
| 2016-04-04 | 0.86 | 1–5 | 30.3 | 0.19 | ||
| 2016-04-11 | 0.90 | 13–43 | 26.0 | 1.81 | ||
| 2016-05-06 | 0.62 | 1–5 | 30.6 | 0.53 | ||
| 2016-06-04 | 0.84 | 7–24 | 27.4 | 0.91 | ||
| 2016-06-09 | 0.80 | 2–8 | 29.5 | 0.20 | ||
| 2016-09-02 | 0.94 | 3–11 | 29.1 | 0.50 | ||
| 2016-09-07 | 0.50 | 5–28 | 27.4 | 1.35 | ||
| 2016-09-08 | 0.75 | 6–18 | 27.8 | 0.11 | ||
| 2016-09-10 | 0.61 | 24–80 | 24.6 | 1.32 | ||
| 2016-09-10 | 0.84 | 5–15 | 28.3 | 1.19 | ||
| 2016-10-03 | 2016 TH | 0.35 | 3–9 | 29.4 | 0.33 | |
| 2016-10-07 | 0.70 | 3–8 | 29.7 | 0.56 | ||
| 2016-10-10 | 0.82 | 6–18 | 27.9 | 0.20 | ||
| 2016-10-18 | 2016 UD | 0.42 | 10–33 | 26.6 | 0.19 | |
| 2016-11-02 | 2016 VA | 0.89 | 6–27 | 27.3 | 0.24 | |
| 2016-11-05 | XV88D4F | 0.98 | 2–7 | 30.0 | 0.095 | |
| 2016-11-08 | 0.90 | 4–15 | 28.4 | 0.70 | ||
| 2016-11-10 | 0.85 | 2–8 | 29.9 | 0.18 | ||
| 2016-11-17 | 2016 WY | 0.94 | 3–10 | 29.3 | 1.73 | |
| 2016-11-17 | 2016 WT | 0.89 | 2–8 | 29.7 | 0.50 | |
| 2016-11-25 | 0.39 | 3–11 | 29.0 | 0.35 | ||
| 2016-11-27 | 0.991 | 5–15 | 28.3 | 1.13 | ||
| 2016-11-30 | 0.66 | 3–10 | 29.3 | 0.23 |
Additional examples
An example list of near-Earth asteroids that passed more than 1 lunar distance from Earth in 2016.- passed 4.92 Lunar distances from Earth on 15 January 2016.
- XBBE860 passed 1.13 lunar distances from Earth on 1 February 2016.
- P10tc2W passed 1.02 lunar distances from Earth on 6 March 2016
- may have passed as close as 0.07 lunar distances from Earth around 5–6 March 2016, but the best fitting orbital solution suggests that it passed roughly 11 lunar distances from Earth around 8 March 2016. has not been observed since 2013 and was not recovered during the 2016 passage.
- 252P/LINEAR passed 13.9 lunar distances from Earth on 21 March 2016
- Comet P/2016 BA14 passed 9.2 lunar distances from Earth on 22 March 2016.
- has a minimum estimated approach on May 8, 2016 of 0.82 lunar distances from Earth. However the best fit calculates an approach of 7.6 lunar distances from Earth.
- passed 6.2 lunar distances from Earth on May 24, 2016.
- passed 27.98 lunar distances from Earth on March 26, 2016
- 2016 PQ passed 9.80 lunar distances from Earth on August 7, 2016.
- passed between 1.0012 and 1.0029 lunar distances from Earth on September 26, 2016.
- passed 1.033 lunar distances from Earth on October 24, 2016
- passed 4.6 Lunar distances from Earth on 30 December 2016