Near-Earth Object
2020 NC
NASA ID: 54017783
2020 NC will pass Earth on 1 July 2026 at a distance of 21.04 lunar distances (LD) - about 8,088,199 km - travelling at 29,817 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 98 and 220 metres, roughly the size of The Shard in London (310 m tall). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.
Close Approach Date
1 July 2026
In 9 days
Miss Distance
21.04 LD
8,088,199 km
21 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
29,817 km/h
1.1 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
98–220 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 22.16
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Not Hazardous
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2020 NC around the Sun, computed from JPL orbital elements. Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom, and use the time controls to run the orbit forwards or back.
Every recorded pass
Each dot is one close approach of 2020 NC to Earth between 1916 and 2029, from JPL's records. Lower means closer: a dot under the dashed line passed nearer than the Moon. The orange dot is the approach on this page.
Size Comparison
Reading the Numbers
- A lunar distance (LD) is the average gap between Earth and the Moon, about 384,400 km. It is the standard yardstick for close approaches. Read more →
- Diameter estimates come from brightness. A dark surface reflects less light than a bright one, so the true size can sit anywhere in the quoted range. Read more →
- Potentially hazardous is a watch-list label based on size and orbital proximity. It does not mean an impact is expected. Read more →
