Near-Earth Object
496901 (2001 HB
NASA ID: 20496901
496901 (2001 HB will pass Earth on 3 August 2026 at a distance of 77.92 lunar distances (LD) - about 29,951,445 km - travelling at 96,808 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 193 and 433 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
3 August 2026
In 24 days
Miss Distance
77.92 LD
29,951,445 km
78 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
96,808 km/h
3.5 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
193–433 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 20.69
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 496901 (2001 HB 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 496901 (2001 HB to Earth between 1995 and 2004, 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 →
