Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 28,641,481 km of Earth in 2024
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2013 RE6 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2013 RE6 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2013 RE6 orbits the sun every 399 days (1.09 years), coming as close as 0.85 AU and reaching as far as 1.27 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2013 RE6 is probably between 0.091 to 0.408 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2013 RE6's orbit is 0.14 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 RE6 has 23 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 30, 2024 | 28,641,481 | 5.737 |
| Feb. 9, 2025 | 25,860,398 | 7.011 |
| June 11, 2026 | 29,080,153 | 8.987 |
| Feb. 27, 2037 | 24,566,101 | 7.660 |
| March 18, 2049 | 22,966,399 | 8.008 |
| April 6, 2061 | 21,706,763 | 8.009 |
| April 23, 2073 | 21,392,805 | 7.796 |
| Dec. 23, 2083 | 29,653,162 | 8.440 |
| May 8, 2085 | 22,040,219 | 7.579 |
| Dec. 29, 2095 | 26,804,250 | 6.356 |
| May 23, 2097 | 23,715,268 | 7.610 |
| Dec. 14, 2107 | 27,751,521 | 5.228 |
| Feb. 1, 2108 | 26,197,060 | 6.628 |
| June 7, 2109 | 27,002,582 | 8.360 |
| Feb. 21, 2120 | 25,074,825 | 7.417 |
| March 10, 2132 | 23,582,581 | 7.895 |
| March 29, 2144 | 22,144,442 | 8.041 |
| April 17, 2156 | 21,482,379 | 7.882 |
| May 4, 2168 | 21,835,221 | 7.628 |
| Dec. 28, 2178 | 27,460,157 | 7.120 |
| May 19, 2180 | 23,099,537 | 7.513 |
| Jan. 23, 2191 | 26,382,651 | 6.313 |
| June 3, 2192 | 25,752,359 | 7.945 |
Images and Observations
2013 RE6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 17, 2001. It was last officially observed on July 5, 2014. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 73 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2013 RE6 can be reached with a journey of 378 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 10.989 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 503 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2013 RE6.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2013 RE6:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.06 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2001
- Inclination: 10.43°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 192.35°
- Argument of Periapsis: 344.94°
- Mean Anomaly: 230.83°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.250 km
- Magnitude: 21.4
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 399 days (1.09 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 28.90 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.27 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.85 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2013 RE6 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 RE6 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.
