2008 PG2 is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2008 PG2 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2008 PG2 orbits the sun every 444 days (1.22 years), coming as close as 1.09 AU and reaching as far as 1.19 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2008 PG2 is probably between 0.500 to 2.240 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than most asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
2008 PG2's orbit is 0.10 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is an wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
2008 PG2 has 22 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14, 2020 | 25,693,833 | 4.737 |
| Aug. 4, 2025 | 21,194,593 | 4.624 |
| Dec. 28, 2036 | 27,609,619 | 4.129 |
| July 20, 2042 | 26,962,032 | 4.448 |
| March 5, 2048 | 29,150,093 | 5.145 |
| Sept. 24, 2053 | 26,650,502 | 4.725 |
| Feb. 22, 2065 | 26,745,069 | 5.237 |
| Sept. 10, 2070 | 20,744,738 | 4.812 |
| Feb. 14, 2082 | 25,324,004 | 5.232 |
| Sept. 3, 2087 | 17,494,659 | 4.731 |
| Feb. 8, 2099 | 24,648,763 | 5.197 |
| Aug. 29, 2104 | 16,199,209 | 4.683 |
| Feb. 6, 2116 | 24,362,212 | 5.167 |
| Aug. 27, 2121 | 15,796,793 | 4.660 |
| Feb. 3, 2133 | 24,238,493 | 5.141 |
| Aug. 25, 2138 | 15,704,218 | 4.649 |
| Jan. 31, 2150 | 24,176,753 | 5.101 |
| Aug. 22, 2155 | 15,915,449 | 4.643 |
| Jan. 27, 2167 | 24,274,049 | 5.034 |
| Aug. 17, 2172 | 16,750,436 | 4.639 |
| Jan. 21, 2184 | 24,760,884 | 4.897 |
| Aug. 10, 2189 | 19,256,425 | 4.640 |
2008 PG2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 3, 2008. It was last officially observed on Jan. 14, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 64 observations used to determine its orbit.
2008 PG2 can be reached with a journey of 362 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 8.094 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 36,847 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2008 PG2.
The position of 2008 PG2 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.