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Near-Earth Object

2020 RQ6

NASA ID: 54054322

Safe

2020 RQ6 will pass Earth on 17 February 2027 at a distance of 101.34 lunar distances (LD) - about 38,955,433 km - travelling at 47,729 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 8 and 19 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.

Close Approach Date

17 February 2027

In 237 days

Miss Distance

101.34 LD

38,955,433 km

Moon PHA limit

101 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

47,729 km/h

ISS

1.7 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

8–19 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 27.5

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2020 RQ6 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 RQ6 to Earth between 1989 and 2070, 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.

2000 2020 2040 2060 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 4 Feb 1989 - 32.17 LD21 Sept 2020 - 3.36 LD7 Feb 2049 - 38.22 LD22 Sept 2070 - 3.65 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 8–19 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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