Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest
- Will pass within 27,878,964 km of Earth in 2036
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
136618 (1994 CN2) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1994 CN2 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1994 CN2 orbits the sun every 721 days (1.97 years), coming as close as 0.95 AU and reaching as far as 2.19 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1994 CN2 is probably between 0.735 to 3.288 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of 1994 CN2 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 13.00 hours.
Close Approaches
1994 CN2's orbit is 0.01 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.
1994 CN2 has 12 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 3, 2036 | 27,878,964 | 13.317 |
| Oct. 20, 2038 | 5,628,285 | 8.478 |
| Sept. 17, 2040 | 8,522,244 | 6.542 |
| Aug. 6, 2042 | 3,353,775 | 7.180 |
| July 20, 2044 | 10,961,998 | 9.902 |
| July 11, 2046 | 28,307,549 | 13.413 |
| Nov. 3, 2131 | 23,501,124 | 12.429 |
| Oct. 22, 2133 | 6,601,082 | 8.752 |
| Oct. 5, 2135 | 6,070,310 | 6.760 |
| Aug. 30, 2137 | 8,398,289 | 6.532 |
| Aug. 3, 2139 | 2,097,694 | 7.703 |
| July 19, 2141 | 15,186,818 | 10.781 |
Images and Observations
1994 CN2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 15, 1994. It was last officially observed on March 28, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,020 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
1994 CN2 can be reached with a journey of 314 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 11.586 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 85 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 1994 CN2.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 1994 CN2:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.573 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.395
- Inclination: 1.44°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 99.34°
- Argument of Periapsis: 248.28°
- Mean Anomaly: 140.29°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~2.012 km
- Magnitude: 16.87
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 721 days (1.97 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.73 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.19 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.95 AU
- Rotation Period: 13.00 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 136618 (1994 CN2) 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 1994 CN2 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.
