Near-Earth Object
2021 GW3
NASA ID: 54135429
2021 GW3 will pass Earth on 29 April 2027 at a distance of 190.78 lunar distances (LD) - about 73,334,645 km - travelling at 91,101 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 5 and 12 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.
Close Approach Date
29 April 2027
In 309 days
Miss Distance
190.78 LD
73,334,645 km
191 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
91,101 km/h
3.3 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
5–12 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 28.43
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Not Hazardous
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2021 GW3 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 2021 GW3 to Earth between 1952 and 2021, 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 →
