Near-Earth Object
2021 RX
NASA ID: 54192172
2021 RX will pass Earth on 1 May 2027 at a distance of 182.88 lunar distances (LD) - about 70,298,999 km - travelling at 23,980 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 7 and 16 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 May 2027
In 311 days
Miss Distance
182.88 LD
70,298,999 km
183 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
23,980 km/h
0.9 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
7–16 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 27.86
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Not Hazardous
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2021 RX 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 →
