Near-Earth Object
481457 (2006 XD2
NASA ID: 20481457
481457 (2006 XD2 will pass Earth on 15 December 2026 at a distance of 67.29 lunar distances (LD) - about 25,866,399 km - travelling at 62,997 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 159 and 356 metres, roughly the size of The Shard in London (310 m tall). NASA classifies it as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) - a designation based on size and orbital proximity, not on any predicted impact.
Close Approach Date
15 December 2026
In 171 days
Miss Distance
67.29 LD
25,866,399 km
67 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
62,997 km/h
2.3 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
159–356 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 21.11
The brightness measure astronomers use to estimate size
Hazard Classification
Potentially Hazardous
A watch-list label based on size and orbit, not a predicted impact
The real orbit in 3D
The actual path of 481457 (2006 XD2 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 481457 (2006 XD2 to Earth between 1911 and 2073, 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 →
