144870 (2004 MA8) is a mid-sized asteroid that orbits between Mars and Jupiter in the outer reaches of the main asteroid belt. NASA JPL has not classified 2004 MA8 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.
2004 MA8 orbits the sun every 2,180 days (5.97 years), coming as close as 1.51 AU and reaching as far as 5.08 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 MA8 is probably between 3.393 to 7.586 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the island of Manhattan.
2004 MA8's orbit is 0.50 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.
2004 MA8's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 25, 1992. It was last officially observed on Nov. 13, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 977 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 144870 (2004 MA8) 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.
The above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2004 MA8 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.