Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 11,413,626 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2015 RH2 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2015 RH2 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2015 RH2 orbits the sun every 490 days (1.34 years), coming as close as 0.89 AU and reaching as far as 1.54 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2015 RH2 is probably between 0.069 to 0.308 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2015 RH2 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 10.67 hours.
Close Approaches
2015 RH2's orbit is 0.01 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 RH2 has 17 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 29, 2020 | 11,413,626 | 5.207 |
| Feb. 23, 2024 | 14,697,834 | 9.674 |
| Oct. 12, 2054 | 13,658,725 | 8.165 |
| Dec. 3, 2058 | 18,185,167 | 5.171 |
| Feb. 10, 2063 | 5,660,220 | 5.961 |
| Feb. 24, 2067 | 14,958,006 | 9.732 |
| Oct. 6, 2101 | 28,845,850 | 11.842 |
| Oct. 16, 2105 | 11,733,247 | 7.213 |
| Nov. 29, 2109 | 17,977,388 | 5.048 |
| Jan. 26, 2114 | 12,522,232 | 5.173 |
| Feb. 20, 2118 | 5,185,321 | 7.828 |
| Oct. 10, 2148 | 20,553,817 | 9.981 |
| Nov. 7, 2152 | 15,847,638 | 4.651 |
| Feb. 1, 2157 | 10,552,866 | 5.279 |
| Feb. 25, 2161 | 14,882,331 | 9.698 |
| Oct. 12, 2191 | 17,786,023 | 9.288 |
| Nov. 17, 2195 | 16,849,042 | 4.762 |
Images and Observations
2015 RH2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 21, 2015. It was last officially observed on July 27, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 396 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2015 RH2 can be reached with a journey of 386 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 9.79 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 1,169 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2015 RH2.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2015 RH2:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.217 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2663
- Inclination: 5.36°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 332.4°
- Argument of Periapsis: 115.28°
- Mean Anomaly: 276.7°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.189 km
- Magnitude: 22.01
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 490 days (1.34 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 27.02 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.54 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.89 AU
- Rotation Period: 10.67 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2015 RH2 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 RH2 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.
