Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 25,105,353 km of Earth in 2072
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2011 EF17 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 EF17 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 EF17 orbits the sun every 1,310 days (3.59 years), coming as close as 0.60 AU and reaching as far as 4.08 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 EF17 is probably between 0.384 to 0.859 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2011 EF17'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.
2011 EF17 has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 24, 2072 | 25,105,353 | 17.469 |
| April 4, 2083 | 17,588,123 | 25.473 |
| April 9, 2126 | 11,565,494 | 23.966 |
| Oct. 11, 2158 | 13,118,852 | 24.157 |
| Oct. 8, 2176 | 5,839,239 | 22.244 |
| April 12, 2187 | 7,745,165 | 22.685 |
Images and Observations
2011 EF17's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 5, 2011. It was last officially observed on Nov. 19, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 72 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 2011 EF17:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.343 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.743
- Inclination: 4.22°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 3.87°
- Argument of Periapsis: 282.39°
- Mean Anomaly: 136.28°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.496 km
- Magnitude: 19.2
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,310 days (3.59 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.46 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.08 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.60 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2011 EF17 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 2011 EF17 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.
