Asteroid 2001 FO32 recently passed our planet at a safe distance of about two million kilometers. The flyby occurred on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at 5:02 p.m. Paris time (4:02 p.m. GMT). With no collision risk, its well-monitored trajectory highlighted its unusually high speed compared to most asteroids of its size.
Measuring less than 1,000 meters in diameter, 2001 FO32 passed at 2,016,158 km—roughly five times the Earth-Moon distance—traveling at 124,000 km/h. NASA highlighted this event on March 12, 2021, noting its faster-than-average speed for known asteroids. Its predictable path, tracked for weeks, confirmed zero danger to Earth.
Asteroids like 2001 FO32 earn "potentially hazardous" status if they exceed 140 meters in diameter and approach within 19.5 times the Earth-Moon distance. Astronomers prioritize cataloging these near-Earth objects (NEOs) to forecast orbits and evaluate risks accurately.
First spotted around 2001, this Apollo-group NEO orbits the Sun in under a year, occasionally crossing Earth's path. NASA notes limited prior data on 2001 FO32, making the 2021 flyby a prime observation chance. Amateur astronomers in the southern hemisphere and low northern latitudes could spot it with telescopes of at least 20 cm aperture—appearing as a swift white dot like a satellite.
Post-flyby, 2001 FO32 continues its solar orbit, with the next Earth approach expected in 2052 at about seven Earth-Moon distances, or nearly 2.8 million kilometers.
