Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building (0.42 km diameter)
- Will pass within 22,905,678 km of Earth in 2026
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2016 GP220 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2016 GP220 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 GP220 orbits the sun every 1,820 days (4.98 years), coming as close as 0.98 AU and reaching as far as 4.87 AU from the sun. 2016 GP220 is about 0.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
Close Approaches
2016 GP220's orbit is 0.07 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 GP220 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 22,905,678 | 12.510 |
| May 7, 2031 | 9,599,459 | 15.142 |
| April 25, 2036 | 26,716,487 | 18.877 |
| April 26, 2150 | 13,648,100 | 16.703 |
Images and Observations
2016 GP220's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 11, 2016. It was last officially observed on May 8, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 74 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 GP220:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.921 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6661
- Inclination: 16.46°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 37.43°
- Argument of Periapsis: 227.01°
- Mean Anomaly: 161.08°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.42200 km
- Magnitude: 22.02
- Albedo: 0.017
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,820 days (4.98 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.46 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.87 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.98 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2016 GP220 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 GP220 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.
