Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon (1.35 km diameter)
- Will pass within 19,694,123 km of Earth in 2060
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2016 PR8 is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2016 PR8 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2016 PR8 orbits the sun every 1,750 days (4.79 years), coming as close as 0.92 AU and reaching as far as 4.76 AU from the sun. 2016 PR8 is about 1.3 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
The rotation of 2016 PR8 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 16.17 hours.
Close Approaches
2016 PR8's orbit is 0.05 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 PR8 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 1, 2060 | 19,694,123 | 18.623 |
| Dec. 11, 2083 | 17,072,739 | 13.594 |
Images and Observations
2016 PR8's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 5, 2016. It was last officially observed on March 2, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 369 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 PR8:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.841 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6769
- Inclination: 16.33°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 97.59°
- Argument of Periapsis: 312.36°
- Mean Anomaly: 154.55°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 1.34900 km
- Magnitude: 18.9
- Albedo: 0.029
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,750 days (4.79 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.66 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.76 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.92 AU
- Rotation Period: 16.17 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2016 PR8 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 PR8 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.
