Stadium- asteroid will safely fly by Earth tonight

Jun 15, 2020
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From your article:

"It has a magnitude of just 20, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory NEO Earth Close Approaches database. For reference, that's even dimmer than the dwarf planet Pluto. The faintest naked-eye stars are around magnitude 6, and a typical six-inch telescope can see stars of around magnitude 13 or 14. "

There is confusion here between magnitude and absolute magnitude.

It has an absolute magnitude (H) of 20. This object recently reached 14th magnitude, had it had a closer approach it would have become even brighter. In 2130 it will have a closer approach where it will become brighter than 13th magnitude...
 

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