Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 5,095,895 km of Earth in 2032
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
153958 (2002 AM31) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 AM31 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 AM31 orbits the sun every 812 days (2.22 years), coming as close as 0.93 AU and reaching as far as 2.47 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 AM31 is probably between 0.563 to 1.259 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 2002 AM31 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.82 hours.
Close Approaches
2002 AM31's orbit is 0.03 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.
2002 AM31 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 29, 2032 | 5,095,895 | 8.844 |
| Aug. 21, 2052 | 10,476,651 | 8.043 |
| Sept. 25, 2072 | 10,624,627 | 8.174 |
| Oct. 18, 2092 | 12,889,330 | 10.532 |
| July 22, 2121 | 6,557,005 | 10.059 |
| July 22, 2141 | 6,434,808 | 10.060 |
| Oct. 18, 2172 | 11,664,369 | 10.025 |
| Sept. 25, 2192 | 11,160,434 | 8.113 |
Images and Observations
2002 AM31's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 7, 1983. It was last officially observed on May 27, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 753 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 AM31:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.703 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4515
- Inclination: 4.64°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 144.37°
- Argument of Periapsis: 197.97°
- Mean Anomaly: 349.49°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.727 km
- Magnitude: 18.37
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 812 days (2.22 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 22.82 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.47 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.93 AU
- Rotation Period: 2.82 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 153958 (2002 AM31) 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 AM31 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.
