Near-Earth Object
612356 (2002 JX8
NASA ID: 20612356
612356 (2002 JX8 will pass Earth on 15 April 2027 at a distance of 48.73 lunar distances (LD) - about 18,730,342 km - travelling at 30,830 km/h. Its estimated diameter is between 267 and 597 metres, roughly the size of Ben Nevis (1,345 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 April 2027
In 299 days
Miss Distance
48.73 LD
18,730,342 km
49 times the Moon's distance from Earth
Velocity
30,830 km/h
1.1 times the orbital speed of the International Space Station
Est. Diameter
267–597 m
Absolute Magnitude
H = 19.99
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 612356 (2002 JX8 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 612356 (2002 JX8 to Earth between 1906 and 2092, 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 →
