2001 CA21

Small Apollo-class Asteroid

Near-Earth Potentially Hazardous
Space Reference » Apollo-class Asteroids » 2001 CA21

Key Facts

Overview

2001 CA21 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2001 CA21 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2001 CA21 orbits the sun every 783 days (2.14 years), coming as close as 0.37 AU and reaching as far as 2.95 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 CA21 is probably between 0.468 to 1.047 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.

No Close Approaches

2001 CA21'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

2001 CA21's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 2, 2001. It was last officially observed on Feb. 4, 2001. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 13 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 2001 CA21:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2451943.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 1.663 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.7752
  • Inclination: 4.96°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 46.65°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 218.63°
  • Mean Anomaly: 336.27°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: ~0.605 km
  • Magnitude: 18.77

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 783 days (2.14 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.11 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.95 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 0.37 AU

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 2001 CA21 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 2001 CA21 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.