Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field (0.21 km diameter)
- Will pass within 28,045,270 km of Earth in 2024
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
1996 GQ is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1996 GQ 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.
1996 GQ orbits the sun every 1,020 days (2.79 years), coming as close as 1.01 AU and reaching as far as 2.97 AU from the sun. 1996 GQ is about 0.2 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
1996 GQ's orbit is 0.02 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.
1996 GQ has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2024 | 28,045,270 | 12.073 |
| Jan. 10, 2069 | 21,548,978 | 10.803 |
| Jan. 28, 2083 | 7,248,738 | 7.094 |
| Jan. 25, 2097 | 8,636,802 | 7.454 |
| March 19, 2150 | 14,163,023 | 8.757 |
| Feb. 13, 2164 | 3,289,303 | 6.287 |
Images and Observations
1996 GQ's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 9, 1996. It was last officially observed on April 14, 2010. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 99 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 1996 GQ:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.989 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4943
- Inclination: 0.88°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 85.29°
- Argument of Periapsis: 59.21°
- Mean Anomaly: 300.96°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.20800 km
- Magnitude: 23.17
- Albedo: 0.024
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,020 days (2.79 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.21 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.97 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.01 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 1996 GQ 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 1996 GQ 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.
