Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 18,217,446 km of Earth in 2053
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2003 MU is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2003 MU as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2003 MU orbits the sun every 1,070 days (2.93 years), coming as close as 1.04 AU and reaching as far as 3.07 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2003 MU is probably between 0.221 to 0.494 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2003 MU'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 MU has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9, 2053 | 18,217,446 | 10.030 |
| July 8, 2056 | 22,591,075 | 10.723 |
| Sept. 17, 2103 | 28,249,306 | 11.979 |
| July 22, 2106 | 12,998,178 | 8.532 |
| Sept. 1, 2156 | 12,059,264 | 8.288 |
| July 13, 2159 | 24,728,029 | 10.531 |
Images and Observations
2003 MU's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 1, 2003. It was last officially observed on Nov. 17, 2012. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 134 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 MU:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.054 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4946
- Inclination: 5.9°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 143.64°
- Argument of Periapsis: 175.64°
- Mean Anomaly: 295.38°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.285 km
- Magnitude: 20.4
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,070 days (2.93 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.88 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.07 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.04 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2003 MU 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 MU 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.
