Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest (2.14 km diameter)
- Will pass within 20,908,265 km of Earth in 2039
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
143624 (2003 HM16) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2003 HM16 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.
2003 HM16 orbits the sun every 1,010 days (2.77 years), coming as close as 0.83 AU and reaching as far as 3.10 AU from the sun. 2003 HM16 is about 2.1 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of 2003 HM16 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 32.10 hours.
Close Approaches
2003 HM16'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.
2003 HM16 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2039 | 20,908,265 | 26.097 |
| April 4, 2050 | 7,913,313 | 23.857 |
| April 3, 2141 | 8,386,429 | 24.014 |
| April 16, 2152 | 29,579,226 | 21.761 |
Images and Observations
2003 HM16's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 27, 2003. It was last officially observed on Feb. 11, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 959 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 HM16:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.968 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5764
- Inclination: 35.58°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 195.93°
- Argument of Periapsis: 47.07°
- Mean Anomaly: 119.8°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 2.13700 km
- Magnitude: 15.96
- Albedo: 0.169
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,010 days (2.77 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.20 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.10 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.83 AU
- Rotation Period: 32.10 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 143624 (2003 HM16) 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 HM16 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.
