Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.50 km diameter)
- Will pass within 9,388,475 km of Earth in 2048
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
7025 (1993 QA) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1993 QA as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
1993 QA orbits the sun every 655 days (1.79 years), coming as close as 1.01 AU and reaching as far as 1.94 AU from the sun. 1993 QA is about 0.5 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The rotation of 1993 QA has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.51 hours.
Close Approaches
1993 QA's orbit is 0.06 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
1993 QA has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 8, 2048 | 9,388,475 | 8.188 |
| Feb. 10, 2100 | 9,698,813 | 8.523 |
| Jan. 27, 2109 | 24,949,826 | 7.551 |
| Feb. 17, 2152 | 20,499,932 | 10.466 |
| Feb. 6, 2161 | 11,787,763 | 7.692 |
Images and Observations
1993 QA's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 16, 1993. It was last officially observed on July 9, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 963 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
This asteroid is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 1993 QA:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.476 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3149
- Inclination: 12.61°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 146.6°
- Argument of Periapsis: 323.46°
- Mean Anomaly: 154.81°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.49800 km
- Magnitude: 18.08
- Albedo: 0.340
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 655 days (1.79 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.52 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.94 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.01 AU
- Rotation Period: 2.51 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 7025 (1993 QA) is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.
Size Rendering
The below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 1993 QA to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
