Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.81 km diameter)
- Will pass within 29,052,188 km of Earth in 2043
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
1999 XK136 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1999 XK136 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1999 XK136 orbits the sun every 1,340 days (3.67 years), coming as close as 0.71 AU and reaching as far as 4.06 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. 1999 XK136 is about 0.8 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
1999 XK136's orbit is 0.01 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.
1999 XK136 has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 22, 2043 | 29,052,188 | 24.437 |
| July 7, 2113 | 22,771,573 | 22.687 |
| July 16, 2124 | 5,952,498 | 18.343 |
| July 14, 2135 | 6,546,965 | 19.382 |
| July 15, 2146 | 5,971,357 | 19.066 |
| July 22, 2157 | 11,494,650 | 16.577 |
Images and Observations
1999 XK136's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 10, 1999. It was last officially observed on Jan. 31, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 147 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 1999 XK136:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.384 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7031
- Inclination: 2.67°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 63.1°
- Argument of Periapsis: 303.18°
- Mean Anomaly: 179.84°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.81100 km
- Magnitude: 20.56
- Albedo: 0.020
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,340 days (3.67 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.35 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.06 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.71 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 1999 XK136 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 1999 XK136 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.
