Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 16,630,967 km of Earth in 2034
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
143487 (2003 CR20) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2003 CR20 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2003 CR20 orbits the sun every 1,130 days (3.09 years), coming as close as 0.57 AU and reaching as far as 3.67 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2003 CR20 is probably between 0.433 to 0.968 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 2003 CR20 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 7.02 hours.
Close Approaches
2003 CR20's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is very close to Earth's orbit.
2003 CR20 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2034 | 16,630,967 | 19.072 |
| Sept. 30, 2077 | 25,022,396 | 27.583 |
| Sept. 24, 2108 | 6,579,303 | 23.759 |
| March 22, 2164 | 9,191,854 | 20.713 |
Images and Observations
2003 CR20's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 6, 1975. It was last officially observed on Nov. 2, 2012. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 287 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 CR20:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.124 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7298
- Inclination: 4.99°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 177.08°
- Argument of Periapsis: 88.81°
- Mean Anomaly: 202.55°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.559 km
- Magnitude: 18.94
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,130 days (3.09 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.45 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.67 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.57 AU
- Rotation Period: 7.02 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 143487 (2003 CR20) 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 CR20 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.
