Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 25,462,605 km of Earth in 2049
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
1991 GO is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1991 GO as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1991 GO orbits the sun every 977 days (2.67 years), coming as close as 0.67 AU and reaching as far as 3.19 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1991 GO is probably between 0.254 to 0.568 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
1991 GO's orbit is 0.03 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.
1991 GO has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 16, 2049 | 25,462,605 | 23.515 |
| Oct. 20, 2057 | 16,450,203 | 21.600 |
| Oct. 23, 2065 | 8,833,103 | 19.994 |
| Oct. 24, 2073 | 5,951,841 | 19.337 |
| Oct. 25, 2081 | 5,705,925 | 19.031 |
| Oct. 27, 2089 | 5,356,722 | 18.217 |
| Oct. 30, 2097 | 9,789,139 | 17.008 |
| Nov. 4, 2105 | 17,431,937 | 15.339 |
Images and Observations
1991 GO's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 11, 1991. It was last officially observed on June 10, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 89 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 1991 GO:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.926 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6539
- Inclination: 9.55°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 23.97°
- Argument of Periapsis: 89.73°
- Mean Anomaly: 67.46°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.328 km
- Magnitude: 20.1
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 977 days (2.67 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.45 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.19 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.67 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 1991 GO 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 1991 GO 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.
