Below is the list of asteroids that have come close to Earth in 2022.

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 2022.^[1] During 2022 about 124 asteroids passed within 1 LD of Earth. As most asteroids passing within a lunar distance are less than 40 meters in diameter, they generally are not detected until they are within several million km of Earth.

For reference, the radius of Earth is about 0.0000426 AU (6,370 km; 3,960 mi) or 0.0166 lunar distances. Geosynchronous satellites have an orbit with semi-major axis length of 0.000282 AU (42,200 km; 26,200 mi) or 0.110 lunar distances.

The first asteroid flyby within 1 LD of Earth in 2022 was asteroid 2021 YK (10–20 meters in diameter), which was observed on 27 December 2021 04:40 UT (when it was about 3.8 million km from Earth) and passed 0.49 LD (190 thousand km) from Earth on 2 January 2022. The largest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2022 was 2022 TM₂ with an estimated diameter of around 39 meters for an absolute magnitude of 25.2. The fastest asteroid to pass within 1 LD of Earth in 2022 was 2022 YW₆ that passed Earth with a velocity with respect to Earth of 29.8 km/s (67,000 mph).^{[2][note 1]}

Two asteroids, 2022 EB5 and 2022 WJ1, are noteworthy in that both were detected before impacting Earth. 2022 EB5 and 2022 WJ1 are the 5th and 6th successfully predicted impacts in history, respectively. The latter also holds the record for the smallest asteroid discovered while in space, with an estimated diameter less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) across.^[3] Every year, dozens of asteroids impact Earth with enough force to be detected by infrasound sensors designed to detect detonation of nuclear devices, but the vast majority of impacts are unpredicted and occur without warning. Fortunately, most occur over uninhabited areas.^[4]

  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)

Warning times by size

This sub-section visualises the warning times of the close approaches listed in the above table, depending on the size of the asteroid. It shows the effectiveness of asteroid warning systems at detecting close approaches. 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.^[1]

Absolute magnitude 30 and greater

(size of a person for comparison)

Absolute magnitude 29-30

Absolute magnitude 28-29

Absolute magnitude 27-28

Absolute magnitude 26-27 (probable size of the Chelyabinsk meteor)

Absolute magnitude 25-26

•   After closest approach: 0 (0.0%)
•   < 24 hours before: 0 (0.0%)
•   up to 7 days before: 3 (100.0%)
•   > one week before: 0 (0.0%)
•   > 7 weeks before: 0 (0.0%)
•   > one year before: 0 (0.0%)

Below is the list of predicted close approaches of near-Earth asteroids larger than magnitude 27, that were predicted at the start of the year to occur in 2022.^{[note 5]} This relates to the effectiveness of asteroid cataloging systems at predicting close approaches. A predicted close approach distance of within ±50% is considered to be a successful prediction.^{[note 6]}

For asteroids which were observed but not predicted, see the main list above.

  Rows highlighted orange indicate objects which were predicted theoretically but were not observed in practice

  Rows highlighted yellow indicate objects which were predicted and observed but the predicted close approach date and distance were incorrect

  Rows highlighted green indicate objects which were observed with the predicted close approach distance (within ±50%) but wrong date

  Rows highlighted turquoise indicate objects which were observed with the predicted close approach date but wrong distance (out by over 50%)

  Rows highlighted blue indicate objects which were observed as predicted with the correct close approach date and distance

  Rows in grey indicate predicted objects that are not yet due

Below is an example list of near-Earth asteroids that passed or nominally will pass more than 1 lunar distance (384,400 km or 0.00256 AU) from Earth in 2022. During 2021 over 1000 asteroids passed within 10 LD (3.8 million km) of Earth.

  Rows highlighted yellow indicate short arc objects that have not been observed for years and therefore the uncertainty in the approach distance and date are large

  Rows highlighted red indicate objects which are risk–listed with a virtual impactor near this date

• List of asteroid close approaches to Earth
• List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2021
• List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2023
• Asteroid impact prediction