Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 5,775,092 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
163373 (2002 PZ39) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 PZ39 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 PZ39 orbits the sun every 650 days (1.78 years), coming as close as 0.67 AU and reaching as far as 2.27 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 PZ39 is probably between 0.415 to 0.929 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 PZ39 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 148.70 hours.
Close Approaches
2002 PZ39's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2002 PZ39 has 14 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 15, 2020 | 5,775,092 | 15.189 |
| March 4, 2036 | 29,351,555 | 11.031 |
| July 23, 2059 | 28,364,855 | 11.163 |
| Aug. 6, 2075 | 9,166,481 | 14.538 |
| Feb. 3, 2077 | 25,483,463 | 21.477 |
| Aug. 11, 2091 | 2,100,319 | 16.723 |
| Feb. 9, 2093 | 9,695,295 | 18.278 |
| Aug. 5, 2116 | 12,499,450 | 13.885 |
| Feb. 5, 2118 | 25,116,744 | 21.414 |
| March 1, 2134 | 24,813,797 | 11.525 |
| Aug. 18, 2157 | 17,392,707 | 19.749 |
| Feb. 17, 2159 | 5,866,481 | 15.162 |
| Aug. 22, 2182 | 26,340,684 | 21.507 |
| Feb. 24, 2184 | 17,434,564 | 12.868 |
Images and Observations
2002 PZ39's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 23, 1995. It was last officially observed on Oct. 31, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,157 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 PZ39:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.469 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5467
- Inclination: 1.67°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 328.84°
- Argument of Periapsis: 260.04°
- Mean Anomaly: 334.73°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.536 km
- Magnitude: 19.03
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 650 days (1.78 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.59 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.27 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.67 AU
- Rotation Period: 148.70 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 163373 (2002 PZ39) 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 PZ39 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.
