List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2012

A list of known near-Earth asteroid close approaches less than 1 lunar distance (384,400 km or 0.00257 AU) from Earth in 2012, based on the close approach database of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).{{cite web |url=https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/ |title=NEO Earth Close Approaches |publisher=NASA/JPL CNEOS |access-date=27 February 2025 }}

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 2012.

This list and the relevant databases do not consider impacts as close approaches, thus this list does not include any of the objects that collided with Earth's atmosphere in 2012, none of which were discovered in advance, but were observed visually or recorded by sensors designed to detect detonation of nuclear devices.

{{legend0|#ff9999|border=1px solid #ff9999|Rows highlighted red indicate objects which were not discovered until after closest approach}}

{{legend0|#ffff99|border=1px solid #ffff99|Rows highlighted yellow indicate objects discovered less than 24 hours before closest approach}}

{{legend0|#99ff99|border=1px solid #99ff99|Rows highlighted green indicate objects discovered more than one week before closest approach}}

{{legend0|#99ffff|border=1px solid #99ffff|Rows highlighted turquoise indicate objects discovered more than 7 weeks before closest approach}}

{{legend0|#bbccff|border=1px solid #bbccff|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)}}

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| 2012-05-17 || 2012-05-16 || 2012 KA || {{convert|0.00150|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 5.2–12 ||align="center"| 28.6{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012KA;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 KA) |type=2012-05-17 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+KA|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+KA|{{mp|2012 KA|}}}}

|- bgcolor="#bbccff"

| 2012-05-19 ||2010-05-23 || {{mp|2010 KK|37}} || {{convert|0.00148|AU|km mi|abbr=on}} ||align=center | 19–43 ||align=center | 25.7 || ||{{JPL|2010+KK37|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2010+KK37|{{mp|2010 KK|37}}}}

|-

| 2012-05-28 || 2012-05-23 || {{mpl|2012 KP|24}} || {{convert|0.00038|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 14–30 ||align="center"| 26.4{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012KP24;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 KP24) |type=2012-05-28 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+KP24|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+KP24|{{mp|2012 KP|24}}}}

|- bgcolor="#ffff99"

| 2012-05-29 || 2012-05-28 || {{mpl|2012 KT|42}} || {{convert|0.000139|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 4.2–9.4 ||align="center"| 29.0{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012KT42;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 KT42) |type=2012-05-29 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+KT42|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+KT42|{{mp|2012 KT|42}}}}

|- bgcolor="#ff9999"

| 2012-06-21 || 2012-06-23 || {{mp|2012 MF|7}} || {{convert|0.00212|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 1125 ||align="center"| 26.9{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012MF7;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 MF7) |type=2012-07-22 last obs}} ||align="center"|Yes ||{{JPL|2012+MF7|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+MF7|{{mp|2012 MF|7}}}}

|-

| 2012-10-07 || 2012-10-05 || 2012 TV || {{convert|0.00170|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 24–53 ||align="center"| 25.2{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012TV;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 TV) |type=2012-10-07 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+TV|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+TV|{{mp|2012 TV|}}}}

|- bgcolor="#ff9999"

| 2012-10-09 || 2012-10-10 || {{mp|2012 TM|79}} || {{convert|0.000615|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 13–28 ||align="center"| 26.6{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012TM79;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 TM79) |type=2012-10-11 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+TM79|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+TM79|{{mp|2012 TM|79}}}}

|- bgcolor="#99ff99"

| 2012-10-12 || 2012-10-04 || {{mpl|2012 TC|4}} || {{convert|0.000635|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 12–27 ||align="center"| 26.7 || ||{{JPL|2012+TC4|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+TC4|{{mp|2012 TC|4}}}}

|- bgcolor="#ff9999"

| 2012-11-12 || 2012-11-14 || {{mp|2012 VH|77}} || {{convert|0.00133|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 9.2–21 ||align="center"| 27.3{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012VH77;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 VH77) |type=2012-11-23 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+VH77|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+VH77|{{mp|2012 VH|77}}}}

|-

| 2012-11-14 || 2012-11-12 || {{mp|2012 VJ|38}} || {{convert|0.00151|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 5.3–12 ||align="center"| 28.5{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012VJ38;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 VJ38) |type=2012-11-16 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+VJ38|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+VJ38|{{mp|2012 VJ|38}}}}

|-

| 2012-12-11 || 2012-12-09 || {{mp|2012 XE|54}} || {{convert|0.00150|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 22–49 ||align="center"| 25.4{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012XE54;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 XE54) |type=2012-12-11 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+XE54|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+XE54|{{mp|2012 XE|54}}}}

|-

| 2012-12-14 || 2012-12-11 || {{mp|2012 XB|112}} || {{convert|0.00212|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 2–3 ||align="center"| 29.9{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012XB112;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 XB112) |type=2012-12-14 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+XB112|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+XB112|{{mp|2012 XB|112}}}}

|-

| 2012-12-15 || 2012-12-13 || {{mp|2012 XL|134}} || {{convert|0.00184|AU|km mi|abbr=on|lk=off}} ||align="center"| 7.3–16 ||align="center"| 27.8{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2012XL134;cad=1#cad |title=JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 XL134) |type=2012-12-14 last obs}} || ||{{JPL|2012+XL134|cad=data}}{{·}}{{MPC|2012+XL134|{{mp|2012 XL|134}}}}

|}

This sub-section visualises the warning times of the close approaches listed in the above table, 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)

File:Silhouette of man standing and facing forward.svg (size of a person for comparison)

{{#invoke:Chart

|pie chart

|radius = 11

|slices =

( 0 : After closest approach : red )

( 0 : < 24 hours before : yellow )

( 2 : up to 7 days before : lightgrey )

( 0 : > one week before : green )

( 0 : > 7 weeks before : turquoise )

( 0 : > one year before : blue )

|percent = true

|hide group legends = true

}}

Absolute magnitude 30 > H ≥ 29

{{#invoke:Chart

|pie chart

|radius = 17

|slices =

( 0 : After closest approach : red )

( 1 : < 24 hours before : yellow )

( 2 : up to 7 days before : lightgrey )

( 0 : > one week before : green )

( 0 : > 7 weeks before : turquoise )

( 0 : > one year before : blue )

|percent = true

|hide group legends = true

}}

Absolute magnitude 29 > H ≥ 28

{{#invoke:Chart

|pie chart

|radius = 27

|slices =

( 2 : After closest approach : red )

( 0 : < 24 hours before : yellow )

( 3 : up to 7 days before : lightgrey )

( 0 : > one week before : green )

( 0 : > 7 weeks before : turquoise )

( 0 : > one year before : blue )

|percent = true

|hide group legends = true

}}

Absolute magnitude 28 > H ≥ 27

{{#invoke:Chart

|pie chart

|radius = 43

|slices =

( 2 : After closest approach : red )

( 0 : < 24 hours before : yellow )

( 3 : up to 7 days before : lightgrey )

( 0 : > one week before : green )

( 0 : > 7 weeks before : turquoise )

( 0 : > one year before : blue )

|percent = true

|hide group legends = true

}}

Absolute magnitude 27 > H ≥ 26

{{#invoke:Chart

|pie chart

|radius = 68

|slices =

( 2 : After closest approach : red )

( 0 : < 24 hours before : yellow )

( 1 : up to 7 days before : lightgrey )

( 1 : > one week before : green )

( 0 : > 7 weeks before : turquoise )

( 0 : > one year before : blue )

|percent = true

|hide group legends = true

}}

Absolute magnitude 26 > H ≥ 25

{{#invoke:Chart

|pie chart

|radius = 107

|slices =

( 0 : After closest approach : red )

( 0 : < 24 hours before : yellow )

( 2 : up to 7 days before : lightgrey )

( 0 : > one week before : green )

( 0 : > 7 weeks before : turquoise )

( 1 : > one year before : blue )

|percent = true

|hide group legends = true

}}

Absolute magnitude 25 > H (largest)

{{#invoke:Chart

|pie chart

|radius = 170

|slices =

( 0 : After closest approach : red )

( 0 : < 24 hours before : yellow )

( 0 : up to 7 days before : lightgrey )

( 1 : > one week before : green )

( 0 : > 7 weeks before : turquoise )

( 0 : > one year before : blue )

|percent = true

}}

{{Reflist|group="note"}}

• List of asteroid close approaches to Earth
• List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2011
• List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2013

{{Reflist|2}}

{{2012 in space}}

close approaches to Earth in 2012

Category:Near-Earth asteroids