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Near-Earth Object

2023 VW5

NASA ID: 54404091

Safe

2023 VW5 will pass Earth on 26 August 2026 at a distance of 94.07 lunar distances (LD) - about 36,159,089 km - travelling at 68,556 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 22 and 48 metres, roughly the size of a double-decker bus (around 11 m long). NASA does not classify it as potentially hazardous.

Close Approach Date

26 August 2026

In 65 days

Miss Distance

94.07 LD

36,159,089 km

Moon PHA limit

94 times the Moon's distance from Earth

Velocity

68,556 km/h

ISS

2.5 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station

Est. Diameter

22–48 m

Absolute Magnitude

H = 25.45

The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size

Hazard Classification

Not Hazardous

The real orbit in 3D

The actual path of 2023 VW5 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 VW5 to Earth between 1902 and 2080, 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.

1900 1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 2075 1 LDMoon's orbit 10 LD today 20 Nov 1902 - 11.05 LD21 Aug 1909 - 20.35 LD19 Nov 1921 - 28.41 LD21 Aug 1924 - 34.36 LD19 Nov 1936 - 13 LD21 Aug 1943 - 19.23 LD20 Nov 1955 - 23 LD18 Nov 1970 - 23.66 LD20 Aug 1977 - 13.86 LD20 Nov 1989 - 18.04 LD17 Nov 2004 - 27.65 LD21 Aug 2011 - 11.19 LD21 Nov 2023 - 4.43 LD20 Aug 2030 - 25.79 LD20 Nov 2050 - 28.73 LD20 Aug 2057 - 17.28 LD20 Nov 2073 - 23.85 LD21 Aug 2080 - 21.96 LD Close approach date Miss distance (LD, log scale)

Size Comparison

Asteroid 22–48 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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