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Near-Earth Object

2020 OM

NASA ID: 54048865

Safe

2020 OM will pass Earth on 21 July 2026 at a distance of 9.08 lunar distances (LD) - about 3,488,749 km - travelling at 34,060 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 11 and 24 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.

Close Approach Date

21 July 2026

In 31 days

Miss Distance

9.08 LD

3,488,749 km

Moon PHA limit

9 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

34,060 km/h

ISS

1.2 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

11–24 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 26.93

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2020 OM 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 OM to Earth between 1928 and 2099, 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.

1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 2075 2100 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 18 Jul 1928 - 8.02 LD18 Jul 1931 - 8.02 LD17 Jul 1934 - 8.01 LD17 Jul 1937 - 8.14 LD15 Jul 1940 - 8.66 LD14 Jul 1943 - 10.35 LD12 Jul 1946 - 14.93 LD9 Jul 1949 - 23.03 LD7 Jul 1952 - 35.34 LD22 Jul 2011 - 9.94 LD21 Jul 2014 - 8.81 LD20 Jul 2017 - 8.37 LD19 Jul 2020 - 8.26 LD20 Jul 2023 - 8.44 LD21 Jul 2026 - 9.08 LD (this approach)22 Jul 2029 - 10.3 LD24 Jul 2032 - 12.37 LD6 Aug 2044 - 34.8 LD7 Jul 2087 - 36.03 LD15 Jul 2099 - 8.18 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 11–24 m Double-decker bus 11 m long

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 →

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