2015 PR228

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
• Will pass within 22,176,137 km of Earth in 2078
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2015 PR228 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2015 PR228 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2015 PR228 orbits the sun every 1,530 days (4.19 years), coming as close as 0.81 AU and reaching as far as 4.39 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2015 PR228 is probably between 0.276 to 0.617 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.

Close Approaches

2015 PR228'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.

2015 PR228 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:

Images and Observations

2015 PR228's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 18, 2015. It was last officially observed on April 12, 2016. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 151 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 2015 PR228:

• 14 Irene (A851 KA)
• 32 Pomona (A854 UA)
• 56 Melete (A857 RB)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2015 PR228 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 2015 PR228 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.