Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 21,749,519 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2011 UV63 is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2011 UV63 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 UV63 orbits the sun every 476 days (1.30 years), coming as close as 1.03 AU and reaching as far as 1.35 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 UV63 is probably between 0.080 to 0.356 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2011 UV63's orbit is 0.03 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 UV63 has 10 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | 21,749,519 | 7.436 |
| April 6, 2033 | 5,386,246 | 5.430 |
| April 1, 2063 | 15,559,744 | 6.659 |
| April 8, 2076 | 9,827,075 | 5.416 |
| April 9, 2106 | 9,439,856 | 5.405 |
| April 3, 2123 | 12,563,404 | 6.329 |
| April 5, 2153 | 5,860,747 | 5.627 |
| April 18, 2166 | 26,649,935 | 6.764 |
| March 31, 2183 | 23,375,471 | 7.748 |
| April 8, 2196 | 8,177,417 | 5.371 |
Images and Observations
2011 UV63's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 21, 2011. It was last officially observed on March 16, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 78 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2011 UV63 can be reached with a journey of 362 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 8.671 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 6,677 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2011 UV63.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2011 UV63:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.193 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.1338
- Inclination: 9.79°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 13.67°
- Argument of Periapsis: 189.9°
- Mean Anomaly: 230.41°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.218 km
- Magnitude: 21.7
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 476 days (1.30 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 27.27 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.35 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.03 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2011 UV63 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 UV63 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.
