2020 UL3
2020 UL3
Current distance from Earth
226,849,305km
590.1 lunar distances1.516 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Next close approach
2081-Nov-14
Passes 5.0 lunar distances from Earth — about 1,932,323 km, closing at 9.9 km/s.
Long-term impact monitoring
2020 UL3 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 28,942
3.5e-3% across all dates
Palermo scale
-3.98
below background risk
Possible dates tracked
3
between 2122 and 2124
A Torino rating of 0 means no cause for concern, and a Palermo value of -3.98 — 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 3 possible dates between 2122 and 2124, 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
1.33 yr
486 days
Diameter
81 m
about the length of a football pitch
Eccentricity
0.323
orbit shape
Inclination
10.4°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
—
Size in perspective
≈ 1×2020 UL3 is about the size of the Statue of Liberty.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 31.2
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
12h 44m
Declination
−5° 05′
From your location
tap to check ›
2020 UL3 is currently faint (magnitude 31.2) — it brightens around close approaches. Position is in equatorial coordinates (J2000); pair it with our sky conditions to plan a session.
Frequently asked questions
How close does 2020 UL3 come to Earth?
Its next notable close approach is on 2081-Nov-14, when it passes about 5.0 lunar distances from Earth — roughly 1,932,323 km. 2020 UL3 is currently about 590 lunar distances away — the live orbit and distance are shown above.
Is 2020 UL3 going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. 2020 UL3 is tracked on the long-term impact-monitoring list with a cumulative chance of roughly 1 in 28,942, spread across 3 possible dates between 2122 and 2124 — a very low probability. Its Torino rating is 0 (no hazard), and its Palermo value of -3.98 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 2020 UL3?
2020 UL3 is estimated at about 81 m across — about the length of a football pitch. 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 2020 UL3 have?
2020 UL3 is APO object. It orbits the Sun once every 1.33 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 2020 UL3 through a telescope?
Most of the time 2020 UL3 is far too faint to see, but during a close approach it can brighten enough for amateur telescopes. Check the close-approach date above, then plan your night with our sky and space-weather tools.
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