Near-Earth Object
2021 VZ8
NASA ID: 54218588
2021 VZ8 will pass Earth on 21 May 2027 at a distance of 79.08 lunar distances (LD) - about 30,398,923 km - travelling at 12,706 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 6 and 14 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.
Close Approach Date
21 May 2027
In 331 days
Miss Distance
79.08 LD
30,398,923 km
79 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
12,706 km/h
0.5 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
6–14 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 28.16
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Not Hazardous
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 2021 VZ8 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 VZ8 to Earth between 1933 and 2076, 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 →
