Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 21,358,360 km of Earth in 2057
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2009 FE is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2009 FE as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2009 FE orbits the sun every 1,470 days (4.02 years), coming as close as 0.98 AU and reaching as far as 4.08 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2009 FE is probably between 0.146 to 0.327 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2009 FE's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is very close to Earth's orbit.
2009 FE has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 16, 2057 | 21,358,360 | 15.664 |
| June 9, 2061 | 13,142,476 | 10.425 |
| March 28, 2065 | 21,238,531 | 16.587 |
| May 24, 2100 | 21,344,178 | 11.612 |
| May 27, 2127 | 22,554,185 | 11.829 |
| April 16, 2154 | 11,144,848 | 11.950 |
| July 3, 2185 | 8,081,000 | 11.650 |
Images and Observations
2009 FE's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 16, 2009. It was last officially observed on March 3, 2017. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 107 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 2009 FE:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.532 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6122
- Inclination: 1.9°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 39.76°
- Argument of Periapsis: 201.01°
- Mean Anomaly: 199.21°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.189 km
- Magnitude: 21.3
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,470 days (4.02 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.74 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.08 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.98 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2009 FE 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 2009 FE 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.
