Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 19,512,467 km of Earth in 2031
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2014 OX299 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2014 OX299 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2014 OX299 orbits the sun every 1,200 days (3.29 years), coming as close as 0.32 AU and reaching as far as 4.09 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2014 OX299 is probably between 0.327 to 0.731 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
The rotation of 2014 OX299 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 40.50 hours.
Close Approaches
2014 OX299'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.
2014 OX299 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2031 | 19,512,467 | 26.409 |
| April 10, 2067 | 18,702,147 | 32.353 |
| Aug. 6, 2073 | 15,556,273 | 32.599 |
| April 11, 2103 | 18,506,746 | 32.055 |
| Aug. 3, 2109 | 29,142,082 | 35.463 |
| Aug. 12, 2145 | 3,098,071 | 30.315 |
| April 4, 2175 | 20,509,449 | 27.309 |
| Aug. 12, 2194 | 6,887,993 | 30.841 |
Images and Observations
2014 OX299's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 28, 2014. It was last officially observed on March 5, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 267 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 2014 OX299:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.206 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.8548
- Inclination: 6.47°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 154.34°
- Argument of Periapsis: 283.16°
- Mean Anomaly: 263.84°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.422 km
- Magnitude: 19.55
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,200 days (3.29 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.00 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.09 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.32 AU
- Rotation Period: 40.50 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2014 OX299 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 2014 OX299 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.
