Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 8,064,890 km of Earth in 2029
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2006 DU62 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2006 DU62 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2006 DU62 orbits the sun every 767 days (2.10 years), coming as close as 0.43 AU and reaching as far as 2.85 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2006 DU62 is probably between 0.671 to 1.500 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.
Close Approaches
2006 DU62's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2006 DU62 has 11 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 9, 2029 | 8,064,890 | 23.844 |
| Feb. 5, 2050 | 23,737,590 | 20.891 |
| July 11, 2064 | 25,791,913 | 24.416 |
| July 5, 2085 | 27,519,482 | 27.431 |
| Feb. 21, 2115 | 25,921,299 | 30.430 |
| July 5, 2127 | 29,599,956 | 28.502 |
| July 4, 2148 | 29,450,925 | 28.554 |
| Feb. 22, 2157 | 29,667,721 | 31.179 |
| July 5, 2169 | 28,512,789 | 28.309 |
| July 12, 2190 | 23,332,339 | 24.821 |
| Feb. 4, 2197 | 27,860,204 | 20.197 |
Images and Observations
2006 DU62's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 25, 2006. It was last officially observed on July 17, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 245 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 2006 DU62:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.64 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7384
- Inclination: 16.45°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 322.1°
- Argument of Periapsis: 71.87°
- Mean Anomaly: 174.06°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.866 km
- Magnitude: 17.99
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 767 days (2.10 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.26 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.85 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.43 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2006 DU62 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 2006 DU62 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.
