Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
- Will pass within 24,213,955 km of Earth in 2027
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
17511 (1992 QN) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1992 QN 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.
1992 QN orbits the sun every 474 days (1.30 years), coming as close as 0.76 AU and reaching as far as 1.62 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1992 QN is probably between 0.913 to 2.042 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
The rotation of 1992 QN has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 5.99 hours.
1992 QN's spectral type None (Tholen) / X (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain iron, nickel, and cobalt.
Close Approaches
1992 QN's orbit is 0.13 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.
1992 QN has 13 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 12, 2027 | 24,213,955 | 11.486 |
| June 28, 2040 | 29,307,905 | 7.363 |
| Feb. 11, 2044 | 23,159,252 | 9.695 |
| Jan. 22, 2057 | 20,699,225 | 12.078 |
| July 12, 2088 | 24,560,054 | 11.886 |
| July 11, 2101 | 23,781,602 | 10.610 |
| July 11, 2114 | 23,813,769 | 10.415 |
| July 12, 2127 | 23,746,922 | 10.802 |
| July 12, 2140 | 23,799,317 | 11.088 |
| July 12, 2153 | 23,686,925 | 10.826 |
| July 13, 2166 | 23,679,702 | 10.949 |
| July 15, 2179 | 25,007,520 | 12.325 |
| July 17, 2192 | 28,838,623 | 13.957 |
Images and Observations
1992 QN's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 29, 1992. It was last officially observed on May 30, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,729 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 1992 QN:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.19 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3589
- Inclination: 9.58°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 355.9°
- Argument of Periapsis: 202.42°
- Mean Anomaly: 67.09°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.179 km
- Magnitude: 17.32
- Spectral type (SMASS): X
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 474 days (1.30 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 27.31 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.62 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.76 AU
- Rotation Period: 5.99 hours
- Approx. Composition: iron, nickel, and cobalt.
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 17511 (1992 QN) 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 1992 QN 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.
