Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 23,183,197 km of Earth in 2045
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
138937 (2001 BK16) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2001 BK16 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.
2001 BK16 orbits the sun every 1,090 days (2.98 years), coming as close as 0.67 AU and reaching as far as 3.48 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 BK16 is probably between 0.719 to 1.607 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 2001 BK16 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 15.06 hours.
Close Approaches
2001 BK16'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.
2001 BK16 has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 5, 2045 | 23,183,197 | 22.480 |
| June 30, 2048 | 13,220,394 | 23.920 |
| June 25, 2051 | 9,135,155 | 25.590 |
| June 21, 2054 | 16,653,476 | 27.386 |
| June 16, 2057 | 27,807,985 | 29.308 |
| Dec. 16, 2191 | 28,613,533 | 25.457 |
Images and Observations
2001 BK16's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 27, 1998. It was last officially observed on Jan. 31, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,752 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 2001 BK16:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.073 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6779
- Inclination: 31.81°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 98.84°
- Argument of Periapsis: 252.45°
- Mean Anomaly: 234.94°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.928 km
- Magnitude: 17.84
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,090 days (2.98 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.69 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.48 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.67 AU
- Rotation Period: 15.06 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 138937 (2001 BK16) 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 2001 BK16 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.
