2016 SE

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to a school bus or smaller
• Will pass within 17,423,659 km of Earth in 2021
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2016 SE is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2016 SE 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 SE orbits the sun every 455 days (1.25 years), coming as close as 1.08 AU and reaching as far as 1.24 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2016 SE is probably between 0.018 to 0.041 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.

Close Approaches

2016 SE's orbit is 0.08 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 SE has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:

Images and Observations

2016 SE's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 22, 2016. It was last officially observed on Sept. 28, 2016. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 18 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 SE:

• 6239 Minos (1989 QF)
• 65733 (1993 PC)
• 90367 (2003 LC5)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2016 SE 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.