Near-Earth Object
2020 OP3
NASA ID: 54049356
2020 OP3 will pass Earth on 31 August 2026 at a distance of 181.33 lunar distances (LD) - about 69,703,777 km - travelling at 53,174 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 172 and 384 metres, roughly the size of The Shard in London (310 m tall). NASA classifies it as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) - a designation based on size and orbital proximity, not on any predicted impact.
Close Approach Date
31 August 2026
In 72 days
Miss Distance
181.33 LD
69,703,777 km
181 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
53,174 km/h
1.9 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
172–384 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 20.95
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Potentially Hazardous
A watch-list label based on size and orbit, not a predicted impact
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2020 OP3 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 OP3 to Earth between 1901 and 2046, 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 →
