Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest
- Will pass within 9,778,816 km of Earth in 2058
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
138095 (2000 DK79) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2000 DK79 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2000 DK79 orbits the sun every 865 days (2.37 years), coming as close as 1.04 AU and reaching as far as 2.51 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2000 DK79 is probably between 1.693 to 3.785 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of 2000 DK79 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 4.24 hours.
Close Approaches
2000 DK79's orbit is 0.05 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.
2000 DK79 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 8, 2058 | 9,778,816 | 33.005 |
| Nov. 7, 2103 | 7,144,097 | 32.991 |
| Nov. 5, 2148 | 9,185,132 | 33.053 |
| Nov. 15, 2174 | 29,850,714 | 33.354 |
| Nov. 1, 2193 | 24,316,025 | 33.308 |
Images and Observations
2000 DK79's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 9, 1986. It was last officially observed on May 27, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 681 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 2000 DK79:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.776 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4146
- Inclination: 60.69°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 43.46°
- Argument of Periapsis: 2.55°
- Mean Anomaly: 53.69°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~2.185 km
- Magnitude: 15.98
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 865 days (2.37 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 22.34 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.51 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.04 AU
- Rotation Period: 4.24 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 138095 (2000 DK79) 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 2000 DK79 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.
