Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 15,313,070 km of Earth in 2022
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2013 BC18 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2013 BC18 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2013 BC18 orbits the sun every 1,670 days (4.57 years), coming as close as 0.63 AU and reaching as far as 4.88 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2013 BC18 is probably between 0.458 to 1.023 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2013 BC18's orbit is 0.02 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.
2013 BC18 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2022 | 15,313,070 | 25.330 |
| June 19, 2054 | 24,763,549 | 21.377 |
| Jan. 9, 2109 | 7,424,343 | 24.471 |
| Jan. 10, 2141 | 13,356,022 | 23.253 |
| Jan. 8, 2173 | 11,548,623 | 23.883 |
Images and Observations
2013 BC18's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 16, 2013. It was last officially observed on July 28, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 145 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 2013 BC18:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.755 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7697
- Inclination: 24.8°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 286.14°
- Argument of Periapsis: 262.34°
- Mean Anomaly: 105.71°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.591 km
- Magnitude: 18.82
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,670 days (4.57 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.95 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.88 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.63 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2013 BC18 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 2013 BC18 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.
