Overview

• The object made its closest approach around 3:41 a.m. ET at roughly 800,000 kilometers from Earth, posed no danger according to ESA, and is now moving away.
• ESA estimates the asteroid’s diameter between 130 and 290 meters based on current observations.
• Global observatories are conducting coordinated tracking, photometry and polarimetry under IAWN to sharpen orbit solutions and physical profiles as a planetary-defense exercise.
• First detected in March by Pan-STARRS, the asteroid briefly appeared on ESA’s Risk List due to early uncertainties before May follow-ups removed any impact concern.
• Russia’s IKI reports the next approach on August 20, 2036 at about 25 times today’s distance, with additional future close passes in 2089 and 2173 to be monitored, and peak brightness forecast on September 20–21 near 15th magnitude.