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Near-Earth Object

2022 SW20

NASA ID: 54309248

Safe

2022 SW20 will pass Earth on 22 September 2026 at a distance of 49.91 lunar distances (LD) - about 19,184,162 km - travelling at 65,989 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 13 and 30 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.

Close Approach Date

22 September 2026

In 91 days

Miss Distance

49.91 LD

19,184,162 km

Moon PHA limit

50 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

65,989 km/h

ISS

2.4 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

13–30 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 26.48

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2022 SW20 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 2022 SW20 to Earth between 1936 and 2064, 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.

1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040 2060 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 21 Sept 1936 - 37.96 LD22 Sept 1966 - 1.51 LD22 Sept 1981 - 9.99 LD29 Sept 1992 - 32.04 LD21 Sept 1996 - 38.65 LD24 Sept 2007 - 10.22 LD23 Sept 2022 - 1.72 LD26 Sept 2041 - 23.17 LD21 Sept 2045 - 21.12 LD2 Oct 2060 - 38.39 LD22 Sept 2064 - 0.9 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 13–30 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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