Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building (0.46 km diameter)
- Will pass within 20,124,114 km of Earth in 2077
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
161999 (1989 RC) is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 1989 RC 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.
1989 RC orbits the sun every 1,290 days (3.53 years), coming as close as 1.13 AU and reaching as far as 3.50 AU from the sun. 1989 RC is about 0.5 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
Close Approaches
1989 RC's orbit is 0.12 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.
1989 RC has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 6, 2077 | 20,124,114 | 7.169 |
| Aug. 24, 2084 | 25,159,823 | 7.914 |
| Aug. 7, 2172 | 20,096,228 | 7.283 |
| Aug. 24, 2179 | 21,704,485 | 7.344 |
Images and Observations
1989 RC's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 9, 1989. It was last officially observed on Jan. 6, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 117 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 1989 RC:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.316 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5123
- Inclination: 7.37°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 140.15°
- Argument of Periapsis: 181.39°
- Mean Anomaly: 245.59°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.45800 km
- Magnitude: 18.61
- Albedo: 0.211
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,290 days (3.53 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.53 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.50 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.13 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 161999 (1989 RC) 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 1989 RC 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.
