2016 PO39

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2016 PO39 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2016 PO39 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2016 PO39 orbits the sun every 914 days (2.50 years), coming as close as 0.88 AU and reaching as far as 2.81 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2016 PO39 is probably between 0.333 to 0.745 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.

No Close Approaches

2016 PO39's orbit is 0.03 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

2016 PO39's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 7, 2016. It was last officially observed on Aug. 31, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 63 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 PO39:

• 1355 Magoeba (1935 HE)
• 1600 Vyssotsky (1947 UC)
• 1727 Mette (1965 BA)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2016 PO39 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 PO39 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.