Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 29,420,755 km of Earth in 2023
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2013 FX7 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2013 FX7 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2013 FX7 orbits the sun every 520 days (1.42 years), coming as close as 0.87 AU and reaching as far as 1.66 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2013 FX7 is probably between 0.082 to 0.366 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2013 FX7's orbit is 0.05 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 FX7 has 19 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 8, 2023 | 29,420,755 | 14.136 |
| Aug. 2, 2030 | 14,878,166 | 9.443 |
| June 19, 2040 | 20,965,099 | 7.003 |
| April 27, 2050 | 18,025,407 | 7.195 |
| March 20, 2060 | 8,143,701 | 9.423 |
| Aug. 12, 2067 | 28,909,033 | 13.350 |
| July 18, 2077 | 16,188,304 | 6.802 |
| May 11, 2087 | 20,607,437 | 7.444 |
| March 20, 2097 | 8,527,807 | 9.547 |
| Aug. 10, 2104 | 24,042,083 | 12.212 |
| June 22, 2114 | 20,972,664 | 6.960 |
| April 6, 2124 | 11,684,709 | 7.184 |
| March 10, 2134 | 28,019,791 | 13.860 |
| July 31, 2141 | 13,826,371 | 8.461 |
| May 28, 2151 | 22,058,790 | 7.500 |
| March 26, 2161 | 6,652,946 | 8.417 |
| July 22, 2178 | 15,870,095 | 6.911 |
| May 6, 2188 | 19,775,533 | 7.353 |
| March 19, 2198 | 11,915,237 | 10.467 |
Images and Observations
2013 FX7's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 17, 2013. It was last officially observed on Feb. 15, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 121 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2013 FX7 can be reached with a journey of 346 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 11.16 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 996 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2013 FX7.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2013 FX7:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.266 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3097
- Inclination: 5.22°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 211.53°
- Argument of Periapsis: 28.87°
- Mean Anomaly: 96.23°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.224 km
- Magnitude: 21.64
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 520 days (1.42 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 26.49 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.66 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.87 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2013 FX7 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 2013 FX7 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.
