Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 6,591,671 km of Earth in 2031
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
154019 (2002 CZ9) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 CZ9 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 CZ9 orbits the sun every 557 days (1.52 years), coming as close as 0.85 AU and reaching as far as 1.80 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 CZ9 is probably between 0.067 to 0.300 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2002 CZ9'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 CZ9 has 18 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 4, 2031 | 6,591,671 | 8.927 |
| May 26, 2034 | 25,591,875 | 7.873 |
| July 23, 2037 | 17,471,614 | 13.049 |
| Feb. 19, 2057 | 21,218,816 | 14.066 |
| April 14, 2060 | 24,545,708 | 7.852 |
| July 12, 2063 | 9,478,742 | 8.616 |
| Feb. 23, 2086 | 11,202,309 | 12.007 |
| April 24, 2089 | 26,071,578 | 8.106 |
| July 13, 2092 | 8,220,614 | 8.967 |
| March 16, 2118 | 15,354,090 | 7.387 |
| June 10, 2121 | 23,297,132 | 7.416 |
| July 26, 2124 | 20,216,301 | 13.627 |
| March 5, 2147 | 6,644,874 | 8.949 |
| May 27, 2150 | 25,672,931 | 7.878 |
| July 25, 2153 | 16,351,119 | 12.845 |
| Feb. 19, 2173 | 26,137,386 | 15.038 |
| April 7, 2176 | 22,646,454 | 7.519 |
| July 10, 2179 | 11,920,705 | 8.040 |
Images and Observations
2002 CZ9's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 10, 2002. It was last officially observed on July 2, 2005. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 69 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2002 CZ9 can be reached with a journey of 354 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 11.674 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 44 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2002 CZ9.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2002 CZ9:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.325 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3603
- Inclination: 4.97°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 142.87°
- Argument of Periapsis: 80.82°
- Mean Anomaly: 6.22°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.184 km
- Magnitude: 22.07
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 557 days (1.52 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 25.88 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.80 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.85 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 154019 (2002 CZ9) 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 below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2002 CZ9 to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
