Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 22,272,079 km of Earth in 2022
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2016 GB1 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2016 GB1 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2016 GB1 orbits the sun every 1,090 days (2.98 years), coming as close as 0.45 AU and reaching as far as 3.69 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2016 GB1 is probably between 0.136 to 0.303 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2016 GB1's orbit is 0.06 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 GB1 has 10 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2022 | 22,272,079 | 21.673 |
| May 2, 2025 | 9,590,653 | 25.307 |
| April 28, 2028 | 13,506,538 | 27.625 |
| Dec. 10, 2087 | 21,196,389 | 29.538 |
| Nov. 26, 2090 | 29,198,923 | 20.951 |
| May 5, 2111 | 14,567,795 | 24.568 |
| Dec. 1, 2146 | 28,125,148 | 21.873 |
| April 28, 2161 | 12,898,423 | 28.026 |
| Dec. 12, 2184 | 16,977,068 | 28.778 |
| April 23, 2199 | 26,193,807 | 31.801 |
Images and Observations
2016 GB1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 1, 2016. It was last officially observed on May 13, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 86 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 GB1:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.071 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7805
- Inclination: 4.72°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 172.17°
- Argument of Periapsis: 154.29°
- Mean Anomaly: 147.08°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.175 km
- Magnitude: 21.46
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,090 days (2.98 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.67 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.69 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.45 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2016 GB1 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 2016 GB1 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.
