2017 AG21

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to a football field
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2017 AG21 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2017 AG21 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2017 AG21 orbits the sun every 410 days (1.12 years), coming as close as 0.96 AU and reaching as far as 1.20 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2017 AG21 is probably between 0.113 to 0.507 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.

No Close Approaches

2017 AG21's orbit is 0.04 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

2017 AG21's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 5, 2017. It was last officially observed on Jan. 6, 2017. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 13 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration

2017 AG21 can be reached with a journey of 354 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 9.317 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 4,391 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.

See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2017 AG21.

Similar Objects

These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2017 AG21:

• 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 2017 AG21 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 2017 AG21 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.