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Near-Earth Object

2021 VC4

NASA ID: 54216376

Safe

2021 VC4 will pass Earth on 3 November 2026 at a distance of 5.96 lunar distances (LD) - about 2,291,695 km - travelling at 40,229 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 11 and 25 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.

Close Approach Date

3 November 2026

In 136 days

Miss Distance

5.96 LD

2,291,695 km

Moon PHA limit

6 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

40,229 km/h

ISS

1.5 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

11–25 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 26.88

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2021 VC4 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 VC4 to Earth between 1932 and 2097, 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.

1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 2075 2100 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 4 Nov 1932 - 27.4 LD3 Nov 1937 - 10.92 LD3 Nov 1942 - 6.66 LD3 Nov 1947 - 9.81 LD4 Nov 1952 - 28.25 LD10 Feb 1998 - 36.74 LD13 Feb 2003 - 19.96 LD13 Feb 2008 - 15.61 LD5 Nov 2011 - 38.84 LD12 Feb 2013 - 28.21 LD3 Nov 2016 - 17.76 LD3 Nov 2021 - 6.32 LD3 Nov 2026 - 5.96 LD (this approach)4 Nov 2031 - 17.41 LD4 Nov 2036 - 37.81 LD14 Feb 2038 - 21.94 LD14 Feb 2043 - 16.65 LD13 Feb 2048 - 29.19 LD7 Nov 2097 - 35.93 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 11–25 m Double-decker bus 11 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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