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Near-Earth Object

2023 AW

NASA ID: 54338714

Safe

2023 AW will pass Earth on 1 October 2026 at a distance of 107.39 lunar distances (LD) - about 41,280,347 km - travelling at 33,838 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 19 and 43 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 October 2026

In 100 days

Miss Distance

107.39 LD

41,280,347 km

Moon PHA limit

107 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

33,838 km/h

ISS

1.2 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

19–43 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 25.68

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2023 AW 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 2023 AW to Earth between 1912 and 2083, 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 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 30 Dec 1912 - 6.82 LD29 Dec 1913 - 24.51 LD28 May 1924 - 25.58 LD25 May 1925 - 13.89 LD3 Jan 1971 - 33.7 LD30 Dec 1971 - 9.54 LD26 May 1980 - 10.79 LD31 Dec 2022 - 3.86 LD26 May 2032 - 8.81 LD31 Dec 2074 - 7.74 LD27 May 2082 - 25.61 LD24 May 2083 - 25.33 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 19–43 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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