1979 XB
1979 XB
Current distance from Earth
260,370,725km
677.3 lunar distances1.740 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Long-term impact monitoring
1979 XB is tracked on the long-term monitoring list — here’s what the numbers actually mean.
Torino scale
0 — No hazard
Cumulative impact chance
1 in 1,174,376
8.5e-5% across all dates
Palermo scale
-2.69
below background risk
Possible dates tracked
4
between 2056 and 2113
A Torino rating of 0 means no cause for concern, and a Palermo value of -2.69 — below zero — means the chance is lower than the background risk of a similar random impact over the same period. The headline figure is a cumulative probability spread across 4 possible dates between 2056 and 2113, so the chance on any one date is far smaller still. No impact is predicted, and objects are routinely removed from monitoring as their orbits are refined — both Apophis and 2024 YR4 were.
Orbit class
APO
around the Sun
Orbital period
3.33 yr
1216 days
Diameter
677 m
roughly the height of the Burj Khalifa
Eccentricity
0.708
orbit shape
Inclination
24.7°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
—
Size in perspective
≈ 1×1979 XB is about the size of the Burj Khalifa.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 29.2
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
8h 04m
Declination
+22° 17′
From your location
tap to check ›
1979 XB is currently faint (magnitude 29.2) — it brightens around close approaches. Position is in equatorial coordinates (J2000); pair it with our sky conditions to plan a session.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1979 XB going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. 1979 XB is tracked on the long-term impact-monitoring list with a cumulative chance of roughly 1 in 1,174,376, spread across 4 possible dates between 2056 and 2113 — a very low probability. Its Torino rating is 0 (no hazard), and its Palermo value of -2.69 sits below the background level. Objects are removed from monitoring as their orbits are refined. The full impact-monitoring breakdown is shown above.
How big is 1979 XB?
1979 XB is estimated at about 677 m across — roughly the height of the Burj Khalifa. Size estimates are derived from how bright the asteroid appears and refined by radar and thermal measurements when it passes close to Earth.
What kind of orbit does 1979 XB have?
1979 XB is APO object. It orbits the Sun once every 3.33 years, on an elliptical path that reaches beyond Earth’s orbit and swings back toward the Sun. The interactive orbit diagram above shows where it is right now.
Can I see 1979 XB through a telescope?
Most of the time 1979 XB is far too faint to see, but during a close approach it can brighten enough for amateur telescopes, and the largest near-Earth asteroids occasionally reach binocular range. Check the close-approach date above, then plan your night with our sky and space-weather tools.
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