Near-Earth Object
2021 LC3
NASA ID: 54157820
2021 LC3 will pass Earth on 16 July 2026 at a distance of 70.83 lunar distances (LD) - about 27,228,473 km - travelling at 26,441 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 13 and 30 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.
Close Approach Date
16 July 2026
In 22 days
Miss Distance
70.83 LD
27,228,473 km
71 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
26,441 km/h
1.0 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
13–30 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 26.51
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Not Hazardous
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2021 LC3 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 LC3 to Earth between 1965 and 2090, 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 →
