Near-Earth Object
2021 PF9
NASA ID: 54184712
2021 PF9 will pass Earth on 1 December 2026 at a distance of 104.01 lunar distances (LD) - about 39,980,201 km - travelling at 16,946 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
1 December 2026
In 160 days
Miss Distance
104.01 LD
39,980,201 km
104 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
16,946 km/h
0.6 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
5–12 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 28.52
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Not Hazardous
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2021 PF9 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.
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 →
