189865 (2003 NC)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

189865 (2003 NC) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2003 NC as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2003 NC orbits the sun every 609 days (1.67 years), coming as close as 0.27 AU and reaching as far as 2.54 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2003 NC is probably between 0.339 to 0.759 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.

No Close Approaches

2003 NC's orbit is 0.04 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.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2003 NC's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 1, 2003. It was last officially observed on July 23, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 176 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 2003 NC:

• 3103 Eger (1982 BB)
• 3752 Camillo (1985 PA)
• 85774 (1998 UT18)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 189865 (2003 NC) 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 2003 NC 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.