2009 KK31

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Centaur-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2009 KK31 is a mid-sized asteroid with an orbit between Jupiter and Neptune. NASA JPL has not classified 2009 KK31 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2009 KK31 orbits the sun every 32,800 days (89.80 years), coming as close as 1.55 AU and reaching as far as 38.53 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2009 KK31 is probably between 0.905 to 2.023 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.

No Close Approaches

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2009 KK31's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 25, 2009. It was last officially observed on May 26, 2009. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 10 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 KK31:

• 2010 NG146

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2009 KK31 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 2009 KK31 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.