2021 NX is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2021 NX as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2021 NX orbits the sun every 731 days (2.00 years), coming as close as 1.08 AU and reaching as far as 2.09 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2021 NX is probably between 0.021 to 0.047 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
2021 NX's orbit is 0.08 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
2021 NX has 15 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 29, 2019 | 15,880,545 | 5.285 |
| Aug. 1, 2021 | 13,076,327 | 4.572 |
| Aug. 5, 2023 | 12,023,061 | 4.204 |
| Aug. 6, 2025 | 11,696,424 | 4.065 |
| Aug. 7, 2027 | 11,499,020 | 3.966 |
| Aug. 8, 2029 | 11,570,022 | 3.921 |
| Aug. 8, 2031 | 11,554,822 | 3.946 |
| Aug. 7, 2033 | 11,543,122 | 3.965 |
| Aug. 7, 2035 | 11,656,783 | 3.988 |
| Aug. 5, 2037 | 11,939,528 | 4.151 |
| Aug. 4, 2039 | 12,602,896 | 4.416 |
| July 31, 2041 | 14,820,820 | 4.974 |
| July 27, 2043 | 19,256,368 | 6.058 |
| July 22, 2045 | 25,727,234 | 7.455 |
| Sept. 5, 2198 | 27,581,268 | 7.074 |
2021 NX's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 5, 2017. It was last officially observed on July 27, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 53 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 2021 NX is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.