Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 18,454,016 km of Earth in 2051
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2017 YE5 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2017 YE5 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2017 YE5 orbits the sun every 1,730 days (4.74 years), coming as close as 0.82 AU and reaching as far as 4.82 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2017 YE5 is probably between 0.367 to 0.820 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.
The rotation of 2017 YE5 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 20.60 hours.
Close Approaches
2017 YE5's orbit is 0.02 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.
2017 YE5 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 18, 2051 | 18,454,016 | 19.568 |
| July 13, 2088 | 26,739,342 | 22.611 |
| May 31, 2107 | 21,666,657 | 12.979 |
| May 25, 2165 | 19,413,655 | 12.429 |
| Feb. 21, 2189 | 29,180,044 | 20.516 |
Images and Observations
2017 YE5's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 12, 2017. It was last officially observed on Dec. 11, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 352 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 2017 YE5:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.821 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7091
- Inclination: 6.22°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 103.94°
- Argument of Periapsis: 110.75°
- Mean Anomaly: 45.58°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.474 km
- Magnitude: 19.3
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,730 days (4.74 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.74 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.82 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.82 AU
- Rotation Period: 20.60 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2017 YE5 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 YE5 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.
