Key Facts
- Categorized as a Aten-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 20,499,502 km of Earth in 2025
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
162117 (1998 SD15) is a small asteroid whose orbit could bring it in close proximity to Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1998 SD15 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.
1998 SD15 orbits the sun every 329 days (0.90 years), coming as close as 0.61 AU and reaching as far as 1.25 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1998 SD15 is probably between 0.395 to 0.883 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 1998 SD15 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 7.33 hours.
Close Approaches
1998 SD15's orbit is 0.11 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.
1998 SD15 has 13 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 19, 2025 | 20,499,502 | 17.205 |
| Sept. 19, 2034 | 24,346,686 | 18.009 |
| Sept. 20, 2043 | 28,802,764 | 18.847 |
| Sept. 23, 2089 | 26,418,978 | 14.293 |
| Sept. 22, 2098 | 22,700,770 | 14.545 |
| Sept. 22, 2107 | 19,757,166 | 14.841 |
| Sept. 21, 2116 | 17,698,604 | 15.163 |
| Sept. 20, 2125 | 16,589,192 | 15.534 |
| Sept. 20, 2134 | 16,473,987 | 15.962 |
| Sept. 20, 2143 | 17,397,543 | 16.442 |
| Sept. 20, 2152 | 19,630,015 | 17.046 |
| Sept. 20, 2161 | 23,268,030 | 17.840 |
| Sept. 21, 2170 | 28,162,901 | 18.773 |
Images and Observations
1998 SD15's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 23, 1998. It was last officially observed on Aug. 12, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 536 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 1998 SD15:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 0.9326 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3449
- Inclination: 26.8°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 183.92°
- Argument of Periapsis: 35.85°
- Mean Anomaly: 9.25°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.510 km
- Magnitude: 19.14
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 329 days (0.90 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 30.84 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.25 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.61 AU
- Rotation Period: 7.33 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 162117 (1998 SD15) 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 1998 SD15 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.
