Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 25,421,040 km of Earth in 2158
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
136770 (1996 PC1) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1996 PC1 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.
1996 PC1 orbits the sun every 911 days (2.49 years), coming as close as 1.01 AU and reaching as far as 2.67 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1996 PC1 is probably between 0.205 to 0.459 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
1996 PC1's orbit is 0.09 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.
1996 PC1 has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1, 2158 | 25,421,040 | 14.074 |
| Aug. 29, 2163 | 18,954,185 | 14.521 |
| Aug. 26, 2168 | 15,061,081 | 14.992 |
| Aug. 25, 2173 | 13,428,406 | 15.445 |
| Aug. 23, 2178 | 13,976,842 | 15.985 |
| Aug. 21, 2183 | 17,475,285 | 16.738 |
| Aug. 18, 2188 | 25,005,564 | 17.877 |
Images and Observations
1996 PC1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 11, 1996. It was last officially observed on Jan. 31, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 253 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 1996 PC1:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.839 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4516
- Inclination: 25.1°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 326.22°
- Argument of Periapsis: 45.94°
- Mean Anomaly: 289.05°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.265 km
- Magnitude: 20.56
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 911 days (2.49 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.96 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.67 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.01 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 136770 (1996 PC1) 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 1996 PC1 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.
