2001 XQ

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

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

2001 XQ orbits the sun every 2,530 days (6.93 years), coming as close as 1.01 AU and reaching as far as 6.25 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 XQ is probably between 0.384 to 0.859 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.

No Close Approaches

2001 XQ'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.

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

Images and Observations

2001 XQ's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 6, 2001. It was last officially observed on Dec. 22, 2015. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 171 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 XQ:

• 522 Helga (A904 AF)
• 2932 Kempchinsky (1980 TK4)
• 130418 (2000 OV60)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2001 XQ 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 2001 XQ 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.