Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 25,239,284 km of Earth in 2025
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2005 OX is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2005 OX as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2005 OX orbits the sun every 561 days (1.54 years), coming as close as 0.51 AU and reaching as far as 2.15 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2005 OX is probably between 0.199 to 0.445 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2005 OX's orbit is 0.02 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.
2005 OX has 13 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 1, 2025 | 25,239,284 | 24.487 |
| Aug. 16, 2048 | 21,237,730 | 15.559 |
| March 4, 2078 | 18,486,606 | 16.416 |
| Aug. 4, 2085 | 18,411,461 | 23.157 |
| March 12, 2098 | 11,642,245 | 21.067 |
| Aug. 13, 2105 | 6,774,218 | 18.361 |
| Aug. 2, 2122 | 29,284,618 | 25.316 |
| March 13, 2135 | 10,339,418 | 20.546 |
| Aug. 13, 2142 | 6,991,102 | 18.324 |
| March 13, 2172 | 10,691,944 | 20.627 |
| Aug. 15, 2179 | 10,764,466 | 17.558 |
| March 1, 2189 | 27,579,540 | 14.521 |
| Aug. 5, 2196 | 19,170,579 | 23.320 |
Images and Observations
2005 OX's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 25, 2005. It was last officially observed on April 16, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 64 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 2005 OX:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.331 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6177
- Inclination: 7.62°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 323.61°
- Argument of Periapsis: 100.45°
- Mean Anomaly: 245.15°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.257 km
- Magnitude: 20.63
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 561 days (1.54 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 25.81 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.15 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.51 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2005 OX 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 2005 OX 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.
