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Near-Earth Object

2021 RS

NASA ID: 54192165

Safe

2021 RS will pass Earth on 28 July 2027 at a distance of 10.34 lunar distances (LD) - about 3,975,136 km - travelling at 14,819 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 27 and 61 metres, roughly the size of a football pitch (around 105 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.

Close Approach Date

28 July 2027

In 312 days

Miss Distance

10.34 LD

3,975,136 km

Moon PHA limit

10 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

14,819 km/h

ISS

0.5 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

27–61 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 24.94

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2021 RS 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 RS to Earth between 1915 and 2093, 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.

1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 2075 2100 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 23 Oct 1915 - 14.46 LD21 Aug 1921 - 19.05 LD24 Oct 1940 - 32.12 LD5 Sept 1946 - 21.13 LD22 Jul 1952 - 36.78 LD24 Oct 1965 - 25.16 LD4 Sept 1971 - 21.02 LD22 Jul 1977 - 28.71 LD28 Sept 1996 - 17.64 LD23 Jul 2002 - 20.91 LD24 Oct 2015 - 33.22 LD22 Sept 2021 - 18.52 LD28 Jul 2027 - 10.34 LD (this approach)20 Oct 2052 - 14.72 LD20 Oct 2058 - 14.54 LD28 Jul 2087 - 13.31 LD30 Jul 2093 - 9.41 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 27–61 m Football pitch 105 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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