Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon (1.37 km diameter)
- Will pass within 3,427,432 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2016 AJ193 is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2016 AJ193 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2016 AJ193 orbits the sun every 2,150 days (5.89 years), coming as close as 0.60 AU and reaching as far as 5.92 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. 2016 AJ193 is about 1.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
Close Approaches
2016 AJ193's orbit is 0.02 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.
2016 AJ193 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 21, 2021 | 3,427,432 | 26.169 |
| Aug. 19, 2080 | 6,999,821 | 24.713 |
Images and Observations
2016 AJ193's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 16, 2010. It was last officially observed on March 11, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 464 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 2016 AJ193:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460000.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 3.261 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.8162
- Inclination: 22.58°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 331.26°
- Argument of Periapsis: 82.03°
- Mean Anomaly: 85.22°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 1.37400 km
- Magnitude: 18.4
- Albedo: 0.031
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 2,150 days (5.89 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 16.50 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 5.92 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.60 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2016 AJ193 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 2016 AJ193 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.
