Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.51 km diameter)
- Will pass within 16,144,309 km of Earth in 2039
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2010 GU21 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2010 GU21 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2010 GU21 orbits the sun every 1,180 days (3.23 years), coming as close as 0.95 AU and reaching as far as 3.41 AU from the sun. 2010 GU21 is about 0.5 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The rotation of 2010 GU21 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 4.33 hours.
Close Approaches
2010 GU21's orbit is 0.01 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.
2010 GU21 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2039 | 16,144,309 | 13.359 |
| Aug. 4, 2055 | 25,650,008 | 15.184 |
| July 7, 2084 | 7,604,372 | 9.571 |
| April 29, 2113 | 10,055,284 | 12.303 |
| July 22, 2129 | 8,602,044 | 11.084 |
| May 3, 2158 | 6,236,326 | 11.399 |
| July 3, 2174 | 9,360,574 | 9.264 |
| Aug. 6, 2190 | 22,981,345 | 14.773 |
Images and Observations
2010 GU21's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 20, 2010. It was last officially observed on Sept. 14, 2010. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 446 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 2010 GU21:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.181 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5628
- Inclination: 3.19°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 57.19°
- Argument of Periapsis: 201.02°
- Mean Anomaly: 45.65°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.51000 km
- Magnitude: 21.14
- Albedo: 0.025
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,180 days (3.23 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.11 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.41 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.95 AU
- Rotation Period: 4.33 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2010 GU21 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 2010 GU21 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.
