Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 21,662,603 km of Earth in 2023
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2003 BB21 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2003 BB21 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2003 BB21 orbits the sun every 1,220 days (3.34 years), coming as close as 0.99 AU and reaching as far as 3.46 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2003 BB21 is probably between 0.164 to 0.366 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2003 BB21'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.
2003 BB21 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 27, 2023 | 21,662,603 | 12.772 |
| May 21, 2116 | 22,877,264 | 12.015 |
| May 20, 2126 | 19,972,837 | 11.488 |
| May 12, 2136 | 14,594,012 | 9.907 |
| May 13, 2146 | 13,384,996 | 9.928 |
| May 3, 2156 | 10,955,645 | 8.720 |
| May 23, 2166 | 19,958,787 | 11.836 |
| May 24, 2176 | 21,871,800 | 12.325 |
Images and Observations
2003 BB21's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 27, 2003. It was last officially observed on June 28, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 163 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 2003 BB21:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.229 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5543
- Inclination: 4.77°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 344.12°
- Argument of Periapsis: 212.78°
- Mean Anomaly: 50.81°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.212 km
- Magnitude: 21.05
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,220 days (3.34 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.88 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.46 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.99 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2003 BB21 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 2003 BB21 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.
