Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
- Will pass within 29,643,660 km of Earth in 2039
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
143404 (2003 BD44) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2003 BD44 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2003 BD44 orbits the sun every 1,010 days (2.77 years), coming as close as 0.77 AU and reaching as far as 3.16 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2003 BD44 is probably between 1.083 to 2.421 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
The rotation of 2003 BD44 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 78.64 hours.
Close Approaches
2003 BD44's orbit is 0.02 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.
2003 BD44 has 9 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 28, 2039 | 29,643,660 | 12.250 |
| Sept. 5, 2050 | 8,719,917 | 17.378 |
| April 14, 2075 | 2,923,223 | 15.753 |
| Aug. 29, 2108 | 7,171,498 | 14.579 |
| Sept. 10, 2119 | 14,022,060 | 18.605 |
| April 3, 2133 | 29,014,588 | 21.531 |
| April 27, 2144 | 16,923,597 | 12.831 |
| Aug. 21, 2166 | 17,221,695 | 12.672 |
| Sept. 15, 2177 | 27,652,721 | 21.178 |
Images and Observations
2003 BD44's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 28, 1981. It was last officially observed on Jan. 29, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,386 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 2003 BD44:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.969 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6064
- Inclination: 2.66°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 181.24°
- Argument of Periapsis: 89.31°
- Mean Anomaly: 99.51°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.398 km
- Magnitude: 16.95
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,010 days (2.77 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.21 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.16 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.77 AU
- Rotation Period: 78.64 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 143404 (2003 BD44) 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 2003 BD44 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.
