2015 XP129

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2015 XP129 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2015 XP129 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2015 XP129 orbits the sun every 730 days (2.00 years), coming as close as 0.96 AU and reaching as far as 2.21 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2015 XP129 is probably between 0.431 to 0.964 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.

No Close Approaches

2015 XP129's orbit is 0.04 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.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2015 XP129's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 4, 2015. It was last officially observed on Nov. 27, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 70 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 XP129:

• 3800 Karayusuf (1984 AB)
• 41429 (2000 GE2)
• 85628 (1998 KV2)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2015 XP129 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 above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2015 XP129 to create an approximate landscape rendering with Mount Everest in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.