# List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2016

Below is the list of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2016.

## Timeline of known close approaches less than one Lunar distance from Earth in 2016

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 2016, based on the close approach database of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).
For reference, the radius of Earth is approximately 0.0000426 AU (6,370 km; 3,960 mi) or 0.0166 Lunar distances. The orbit of geosynchronous satellites, however, is 0.000282 AU (42,200 km; 26,200 mi) or 0.110 Lunar distances. This year, 6 (possibly 7) asteroids traveled nearer than this, most notably 2016 DY$_{30}$, which approached a mere 1.25 Earth radii (8000 km) from the surface.
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 would only be included if the object was found by precovery, but there was no such close approach in 2016.
This list and relevant databases do not consider impacts as close approaches, thus this list does not include any of the 32 objects that collided with Earth's atmosphere in 2016, 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)
| Date of closest approach | Date discovered | Object | Nominal geocentric distance (AU) | Nominal geocentric distance (LD) | Size (m) (approximate) | (H) | Closer approach to Moon |
| 2016-01-10 | 2016-01-12 | 2016 AQ$_{164}$ | 0.000698 AU (104,400 km; 64,900 mi) | 0.27 | 2.9–6.5 | 29.8 | |
| 2016-01-12 | 2016-01-13 | 2016 AH$_{164}$ | 0.000178 AU (26,600 km; 16,500 mi) | 0.07 | 3.1–6.8 | 29.7 | |
| 2016-01-13 | 2016-01-14 | 2016 AN$_{165}$ | 0.00120 AU (180,000 km; 112,000 mi) | 0.47 | 7.7–17 | 27.7 | |
| 2016-01-14 | 2016-01-14 | 2016 AN$_{164}$ | 0.000248 AU (37,100 km; 23,100 mi) | 0.10 | 2.2–4.9 | 30.4 | |
| 2016-02-06 | 2016-02-03 | 2016 CG$_{18}$ | 0.00101 AU (151,000 km; 94,000 mi) | 0.39 | 5.3–12 | 28.5 | |
| 2016-02-10 | 2016-02-11 | 2016 CW$_{264}$ | 0.00141 AU (211,000 km; 131,000 mi) | 0.55 | 2.9–6.5 | 29.8 | |
| 2016-02-13 | 2016-02-12 | 2016 CM$_{194}$ | 0.000517 AU (77,300 km; 48,100 mi) | 0.20 | 7.7–17 | 27.7 | |
| 2016-02-15 | 2016-02-16 | 2016 DB | 0.000828 AU (123,900 km; 77,000 mi) | 0.32 | 5.3–12 | 28.5 | |
| 2016-02-25 | 2016-02-26 | 2016 DY$_{30}$ | 0.0000956 AU (14,300 km; 8,890 mi) | 0.04 | 2.1–4.7 | 30.5 | |
| 2016-02-26 | 2016-02-27 | 2016 DK$_2$ | 0.00212 AU (317,000 km; 197,000 mi) | 0.83 | 4.4–9.9 | 28.9 | |
| 2016-02-29 | 2016-02-28 | 2016 DA$_{31}$ | 0.00134 AU (200,000 km; 125,000 mi) | 0.52 | 2.8–6.2 | 29.9 | Yes |
| 2016-03-03 | 2016-03-02 | 2016 EK$_1$ | 0.00135 AU (202,000 km; 125,000 mi) | 0.53 | 4–9 | 29.1 | Yes |
| 2016-03-04 | 2016-03-03 | 2016 EL$_1$ | 0.00154 AU (230,000 km; 143,000 mi) | 0.60 | 7.3–16 | 27.8 | |
| 2016-03-08 | 2016-03-07 | 2016 EV$_{28}$ | 0.00103 AU (154,000 km; 96,000 mi) | 0.40 | 5.4–15 | 28.5 | |
| 2016-03-10 | 2016-03-11 | 2016 EN$_{157}$ | 0.00216 AU (323,000 km; 201,000 mi) | 0.84 | 6.7–15 | 28.0 | |
| 2016-03-11 | 2016-03-15 | 2016 EF$_{195}$ | 0.000211 AU (31,600 km; 19,600 mi) | 0.08 | 21–47 | 25.5 | |
| 2016-03-14 | 2016-03-16 | 2016 FC$_1$ | 0.00112 AU (168,000 km; 104,000 mi) | 0.44 | 4–9 | 29.1 | |
| 2016-03-23 | 2016-03-30 | 2016 FZ$_{13}$ | 0.00252 AU (377,000 km; 234,000 mi) | 0.98 | 5.8–13 | 28.3 | Yes |
| 2016-03-25 | 2016-03-27 | 2016 FU$_6$ | 0.00120 AU (180,000 km; 112,000 mi) | 0.47 | 4.4–9.9 | 28.9 | |
| 2016-03-28 | 2016-03-31 | 2016 FE$_{15}$ | 0.00180 AU (269,000 km; 167,000 mi) | 0.70 | 4.6–10 | 28.8 | Yes |
| 2016-04-01 | 2016-04-05 | 2016 GS$_{134}$ | 0.00133 AU (199,000 km; 124,000 mi) | 0.52 | 7.7–17 | 27.7 | |
| 2016-04-04 | 2016-04-05 | 2016 GN$_{134}$ | 0.000382 AU (57,100 km; 35,500 mi) | 0.15 | 2.3–5.1 | 30.3 | |
| 2016-04-05 | 2016-03-30 | 2016 FW$_{13}$ | 0.00210 AU (314,000 km; 195,000 mi) | 0.82 | 3.3–7.5 | 29.5 | |
| 2016-04-06 | 2016-04-09 | 2016 GO$_{206}$ | 0.00222 AU (332,000 km; 206,000 mi) | 0.86 | 15–33 | 26.3 | |
| 2016-04-08 | 2016-04-06 | 2016 GO$_{134}$ | 0.00222 AU (332,000 km; 206,000 mi) | 0.86 | 8–18 | 27.6 | |
| 2016-05-05 | 2016-05-03 | 2016 JS$_5$ | 0.00136 AU (203,000 km; 126,000 mi) | 0.53 | 1.9–4.3 | 30.7 | |
| 2016-06-04 | 2016-06-10 | 2016 LR$_{51}$ | 0.00235 AU (352,000 km; 218,000 mi) | 0.91 | 8.8–20 | 27.4 | Yes |
| 2016-06-07 | 2016-06-04 | 2016 LT$_1$ | 0.000965 AU (144,400 km; 89,700 mi) | 0.38 | 4.2–9.4 | 29.0 | |
| 2016-06-09 | 2016-06-08 | 2016 LP$_{10}$ | 0.000479 AU (71,700 km; 44,500 mi) | 0.19 | 3.7–8.2 | 29.3 | |
| 2016-07-07 | 2016-07-09 | 2016 NJ$_{22}$ | 0.00191 AU (286,000 km; 178,000 mi) | 0.74 | 5.6–12 | 28.4 | |
| 2016-07-11 | 2016-07-09 | 2016 NK$_{22}$ | 0.00177 AU (265,000 km; 165,000 mi) | 0.69 | 4.2–9.4 | 29.0 | |
| 2016-08-28 | 2016-08-27 | 2016 QA$_2$ | 0.000579 AU (86,600 km; 53,800 mi) | 0.23 | 25–57 | 25.1 | |
| 2016-09-02 | 2016-09-04 | 2016 RR$_1$ | 0.000865 AU (129,400 km; 80,400 mi) | 0.34 | 6.7–15 | 28.0 | |
| 2016-09-03 | 2016-09-04 | 2016 RS$_1$ | 0.00127 AU (190,000 km; 118,000 mi) | 0.50 | 3.8–8.6 | 29.2 | |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016-09-05 | 2016 RB$_1$ | 0.000271 AU (40,500 km; 25,200 mi) | 0.11 | 5.8–13 | 28.3 | |
| 2016-09-11 | 2016-09-11 | 2016 RN$_{41}$ | 0.000159 AU (23,800 km; 14,800 mi) | 0.06 | 1.7–3.7 | 31.0 | |
| 2016-09-21 | 2016-09-22 | 2016 SJ | 0.000997 AU (149,100 km; 92,700 mi) | 0.39 | 4.2–9.4 | 29.0 | |
| 2016-09-24 | 2016-09-26 | 2016 SU$_2$ | 0.00235 AU (352,000 km; 218,000 mi) | 0.91 | 8–18 | 27.6 | |
| 2016-09-25 | 2016-09-26 | 2016 SA$_2$ | 0.00205 AU (307,000 km; 191,000 mi) | 0.80 | 6.3–14 | 28.1 | |
| 2016-09-30 | 2016-10-01 | 2016 TD | 0.00151 AU (226,000 km; 140,000 mi) | 0.59 | 6.4–14 | 28.1 | |
| 2016-10-03 | 2016-10-02 | 2016 TH | 0.000858 AU (128,400 km; 79,800 mi) | 0.33 | 3.5–7.8 | 29.4 | |
| 2016-10-08 | 2016-10-09 | 2016 TG$_{94}$ | 0.00145 AU (217,000 km; 135,000 mi) | 0.56 | 3.1–7 | 29.7 | |
| 2016-10-10 | 2016-10-11 | 2016 TS$_{54}$ | 0.000502 AU (75,100 km; 46,700 mi) | 0.20 | 7.3–16 | 27.8 | |
| 2016-10-11 | 2016-10-09 | 2016 TB$_{19}$ | 0.00212 AU (317,000 km; 197,000 mi) | 0.82 | 4–9 | 29.1 | |
| 2016-10-17 | 2016-10-19 | 2016 UD | 0.000485 AU (72,600 km; 45,100 mi) | 0.19 | 13–28 | 26.6 | |
| 2016-11-02 | 2016-11-01 | 2016 VA | 0.000630 AU (94,200 km; 58,600 mi) | 0.25 | 8–18 | 27.6 | |
| 2016-11-07 | 2016-11-05 | 2016 VB$_1$ | 0.00179 AU (268,000 km; 166,000 mi) | 0.70 | 5.1–11 | 28.6 | |
| 2016-11-10 | 2016-11-11 | 2016 VF$_{18}$ | 0.000467 AU (69,900 km; 43,400 mi) | 0.18 | 2.8–6.3 | 29.9 | |
| 2016-11-17 | 2016-11-18 | 2016 WT | 0.00129 AU (193,000 km; 120,000 mi) | 0.50 | 2.9–6.5 | 29.8 | |
| 2016-11-21 | 2016-11-23 | 2016 WT$_3$ | 0.00243 AU (364,000 km; 226,000 mi) | 0.95 | 5.1–11 | 28.6 | |
| 2016-11-25 | 2016-11-24 | 2016 WW$_2$ | 0.000894 AU (133,700 km; 83,100 mi) | 0.35 | 5.1–9.2 | 29.0 | |
| 2016-11-30 | 2016-12-01 | 2016 XL$_{23}$ | 0.000580 AU (86,800 km; 53,900 mi) | 0.23 | 3.7–8.3 | 29.3 | |
In addition to the confirmed asteroids on the above list, which feature in the CNEOS close approach database, there have been well-observed unconfirmed or confirmed but poorly observed objects with a 50% or greater chance of passing within 1 LD of the Earth, which are listed separately below.
| Date of closest approach | Date discovered | Object | Nominal geocentric distance (AU) | Nominal geocentric distance (LD) | Size (m) (approximate) | (H) | Closer approach to Moon |
| 2016-02-11 | 2016-??-?? | P10tI8h | 0.00176 AU (263,000 km; 164,000 mi) | 0.69 | 2–3 | 30.7 | ? |
| 2016-03-28 | 2016-03-31 | 2016 FR$_{60}$ aka BeUc1Ig | 0.00256 AU (383,000 km; 238,000 mi) | 0.99 | 3–9 | 29.3 | ? |
| 2016-04-01 | 2016-04-02 | 2016 GC$_{252}$ aka XGB1CE8 | 0.000336 AU (50,300 km; 31,200 mi) | 0.13 | 3–9 | 29.3 | ? |
| 2016-08-09 | 2016-08-16 (Unconfirmed) | DT16P09 | 0.000432 AU (64,600 km; 40,200 mi) | 0.17 | 1–3 | 32.9 | ? |
| 2016-10-14 | 2016-10-20 (Unconfirmed) | XT9D939 | 0.00241 AU (361,000 km; 224,000 mi) | 0.94 | 7–20 | 27.7 | |
| 2016-10-19 | 2016-11-06 (Unconfirmed) | XUA7AB3 | 0.00233 AU (349,000 km; 217,000 mi) | 0.91 | 4–13 | 28.6 | |
| 2016-11-05 | 2016-11-14 (Unconfirmed) | XV88D4F | 0.000245 AU (36,700 km; 22,800 mi) | 0.095 | 2–7 | 30.0 | |

### Warning times by size

This sub-section visualizes the warning times of the close approaches listed in the table of confirmed close approaches, depending on the size of the asteroid. 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 26 > H ≥ 25
* After closest approach: 1 (50.0%)
* < 24 hours before: 1 (50.0%)
* up to 7 days before: 0 (0.0%)
* > one week before: 0 (0.0%)
* > 7 weeks before: 0 (0.0%)
* > one year before: 0 (0.0%)
Absolute magnitude 25 > H (largest)
None