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List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020

List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020 is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020 rather than just read about it. In short: Below is the list of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020. Timeline of known close approaches less than one lunar distance from Earth A list of known near-Earth asteroid close approaches less than 1 lunar distance (0.0025696 AU (384,410 km; 238,860 mi)) from Earth in 2020, based on the close approach database of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).

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Reference excerpt

Below is the list of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020.

Timeline of known close approaches less than one lunar distance from Earth

A list of known near-Earth asteroid close approaches less than 1 lunar distance (0.0025696 AU (384,410 km; 238,860 mi)) from Earth in 2020, based on the close approach database of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). For reference, the radius of Earth is about 0.0000426 AU (6,370 km; 3,960 mi) or 0.0166 lunar distances. Geosynchronous satellites have an orbit with semi-major axis length of 0.000282 AU (42,200 km; 26,200 mi) or 0.110 lunar distances. A number of known asteroids came closer than this in 2020, notably 2020 CW, 2020 JJ, 2020 QG, and 2020 VT4 which all approached Earth within 0.05 lunar distances. At 0.0000451 AU (0.0176 LD; 6,750 km; 4,190 mi) from the center of the Earth or about 370 km (230 mi) above the surface of the Earth, the 13 November 2020 close approach of 2020 VT4 was the closest approach of an asteroid ever observed without atmospheric contact, and still holds this record as of February 2025. Two objects have been observed to be temporary satellites of Earth: 2020 CD3 in February 2020 and 2020 SO in September 2020, albeit the latter has been confirmed to be a rocket booster from the Surveyor 2 mission launched in 1966, leading to its de-listing as asteroid. The largest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2020 was 2020 LD with an estimated diameter of around 145 meters and an absolute magnitude of 22.4. The fastest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2020 was 2020 FD2 that passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 33.4 km/s (75,000 mph). The CNEOS database of close approaches lists some close approaches a full orbit or more before the discovery of the object, derived by orbit calculation. The list below only includes close approaches that are evidenced by observations, thus the pre-discovery close approaches are only included if the object was found by precovery. This list and the relevant databases do not consider impacts as close approaches, thus this list does not include any of the objects that collided with Earth's atmosphere in 2020, none of which were discovered in advance, but were observed visually or recorded by sensors designed to detect detonation of nuclear devices. Rows highlighted red indicate objects which were not discovered until after closest approach Rows highlighted yellow indicate objects discovered less than 24 hours before closest approach Rows highlighted green indicate objects discovered more than one week before closest approach Rows highlighted turquoise indicate objects discovered more than 7 weeks before closest approach Rows highlighted blue indicate objects discovered more than one year before closest approach(i.e. objects successfully cataloged on a previous orbit, rather than being detected during final approach)

Warning times by size This sub-section visualises the warning times of the close approaches listed in the above table, depending on the size of the asteroid. It shows the effectiveness of asteroid warning systems at detecting close approaches in 2020. The sizes of the charts show the relative sizes of the asteroids to scale. For comparison, the approximate size of a person is also shown. This is based the absolute magnitude of each asteroid, an approximate measure of size based on brightness. Absolute magnitude H ≥ 30 (smallest)

(size of a person for comparison)

Absolute magnitude 30 > H ≥ 29

Absolute magnitude 29 > H ≥ 28

Absolute magnitude 28 > H ≥ 27

Absolute magnitude 27 > H ≥ 26

Absolute magnitude 36 > H ≥ 25

Absolute magnitude 25 > H (largest)

Predicted close approaches Below is the list of predicted close approaches of near-Earth asteroids larger than magnitude 27, that were predicted to occur in 2020. This relates to asteroid cataloging systems effectiveness at predicting close approaches in 2020. For asteroids which were observed but not predicted, see the main list above. In 2020, at the outset of the year, no asteroids were predicted to pass within 1 lunar distance of Earth. Table omitted.

Notes

Additional examples

An example list of near-Earth asteroids that passed or will pass more than 1 lunar distance (384,400 km or 0.00256 AU) from Earth in 2020.

Notes

See also List of asteroid close approaches to Earth List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2019 List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2021 Asteroid impact prediction

References

Illustrations

List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020: Radar image of 2020 BX12 and its satellite during close approach in February 2020 — Radar image of 2020 BX12 and its satellite during close approach in February 2020

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

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Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020

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In the classroom: List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Earth-crossing asteroids, Lists of asteroids, Near-Earth asteroids, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
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Frequently asked questions

What is List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020 in simple terms?

Below is the list of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2020. Timeline of known close approaches less than one lunar distance from Earth A list of known near-Earth asteroid close approaches less than 1 lunar distance (0.0025696 AU (384,410 km; 238,860 mi)) from Earth in 2020, based on the close…

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