2016 VZ1

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to a school bus or smaller
• Will pass within 7,657,204 km of Earth in 2026
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2016 VZ1 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2016 VZ1 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 VZ1 orbits the sun every 405 days (1.11 years), coming as close as 0.92 AU and reaching as far as 1.22 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2016 VZ1 is probably between 0.016 to 0.036 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.

Close Approaches

2016 VZ1's orbit is 0.01 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 VZ1 has 16 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:

Images and Observations

2016 VZ1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 6, 2016. It was last officially observed on Nov. 8, 2016. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 41 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 VZ1:

• 1566 Icarus (1949 MA)
• 1865 Cerberus (1971 UA)
• 2063 Bacchus (1977 HB)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2016 VZ1 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.