142561 (2002 TX68)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

142561 (2002 TX68) is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2002 TX68 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.

2002 TX68 orbits the sun every 791 days (2.17 years), coming as close as 1.18 AU and reaching as far as 2.16 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 TX68 is probably between 0.606 to 1.355 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.

No Close Approaches

2002 TX68's orbit is 0.25 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.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2002 TX68's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 8, 2002. It was last officially observed on Jan. 13, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,339 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 2002 TX68:

• 65674 (1988 SM)
• 68350 (2001 MK3)
• 103066 (1999 XO141)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 142561 (2002 TX68) 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 2002 TX68 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.