Didymos
65803 · Its moonlet was struck by the DART impactor.
Current distance from Earth
135,593,601km
352.7 lunar distances0.906 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Next close approach
2062-Oct-20
Passes 19.3 lunar distances from Earth — about 7,427,558 km, closing at 5.1 km/s.
Orbit class
Apollo
around the Sun
Orbital period
2.10 yr
767 days
Diameter
780 m
roughly the height of the Burj Khalifa
Eccentricity
0.383
orbit shape
Inclination
3.4°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
1996
Size in perspective
≈ 1×Didymos is about the size of the Burj Khalifa.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 32.2
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
16h 21m
Declination
−22° 40′
From your location
tap to check ›
Didymos is currently faint (magnitude 32.2) — it brightens around close approaches. Position is in equatorial coordinates (J2000); pair it with our sky conditions to plan a session.
Visited by DART / Hera
DART struck its moonlet Dimorphos in 2022; ESA’s Hera surveys the aftermath.
Frequently asked questions
How close does Didymos come to Earth?
Its next notable close approach is on 2062-Oct-20, when it passes about 19.3 lunar distances from Earth — roughly 7,427,558 km. Didymos is currently about 353 lunar distances away — the live orbit and distance are shown above.
Is Didymos going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. Didymos is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, which means its orbit brings it relatively close to Earth — but classification is about proximity, not an impending collision. Its trajectory is continuously refined as new observations are gathered, and predicted close approaches are calculated decades ahead. Its live position and orbit are shown above.
How big is Didymos?
Didymos is estimated at about 780 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 Didymos have?
Didymos is Apollo (Earth-crossing) object. It orbits the Sun once every 2.10 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.
Has a spacecraft visited Didymos?
Yes — DART / Hera. DART struck its moonlet Dimorphos in 2022; ESA’s Hera surveys the aftermath. Explore more spacecraft and missions.
Can I see Didymos through a telescope?
Most of the time Didymos 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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