Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 8,662,323 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2003 OC3 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2003 OC3 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2003 OC3 orbits the sun every 1,230 days (3.37 years), coming as close as 0.91 AU and reaching as far as 3.60 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2003 OC3 is probably between 0.456 to 1.019 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.
The rotation of 2003 OC3 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.36 hours.
Close Approaches
2003 OC3's orbit is 0.05 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 OC3 has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2020 | 8,662,323 | 12.551 |
| April 2, 2064 | 17,841,979 | 11.736 |
| March 9, 2081 | 5,391,572 | 12.689 |
| April 23, 2098 | 24,904,053 | 11.878 |
| March 6, 2139 | 5,291,127 | 13.164 |
| March 14, 2156 | 5,610,027 | 12.018 |
| May 5, 2173 | 27,942,092 | 12.128 |
Images and Observations
2003 OC3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 21, 2003. It was last officially observed on June 30, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 223 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 OC3:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.251 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5975
- Inclination: 13.13°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 172.34°
- Argument of Periapsis: 23.02°
- Mean Anomaly: 7.92°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.588 km
- Magnitude: 18.83
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,230 days (3.37 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.91 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.60 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.91 AU
- Rotation Period: 2.36 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2003 OC3 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 2003 OC3 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.
