10302 (1989 ML)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
• Will pass within 14,878,653 km of Earth in 2022
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

10302 (1989 ML) is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 1989 ML 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.

1989 ML orbits the sun every 525 days (1.44 years), coming as close as 1.10 AU and reaching as far as 1.45 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1989 ML is probably between 0.224 to 1.002 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.

The rotation of 1989 ML has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 19.16 hours.

1989 ML's spectral type None (Tholen) / X (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain iron, nickel, and cobalt.

Close Approaches

1989 ML's orbit is 0.08 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.

1989 ML has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:

Images and Observations

1989 ML's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 6, 1989. It was last officially observed on Dec. 20, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,151 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration

1989 ML can be reached with a journey of 410 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 9.602 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 33,017 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.

See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 1989 ML.

Similar Objects

These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 1989 ML:

• 3200 Phaethon (1983 TB)
• 5693 (1993 EA)
• 6037 (1988 EG)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 10302 (1989 ML) 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 above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 1989 ML to create an approximate landscape rendering with Mount Everest in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.