Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 27,039,214 km of Earth in 2039
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2018 AT is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2018 AT as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2018 AT orbits the sun every 803 days (2.20 years), coming as close as 1.02 AU and reaching as far as 2.37 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2018 AT is probably between 0.203 to 0.453 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2018 AT's orbit is 0.03 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.
2018 AT has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 18, 2039 | 27,039,214 | 9.935 |
| Oct. 20, 2050 | 29,180,997 | 10.203 |
| Sept. 5, 2158 | 26,369,898 | 12.499 |
| Sept. 7, 2169 | 22,381,116 | 11.875 |
| Sept. 6, 2180 | 24,521,668 | 12.204 |
Images and Observations
2018 AT's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 21, 2016. It was last officially observed on June 2, 2019. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 67 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 2018 AT:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.691 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3992
- Inclination: 13.38°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 355.78°
- Argument of Periapsis: 21.5°
- Mean Anomaly: 244.06°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.262 km
- Magnitude: 20.59
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 803 days (2.20 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 22.91 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.37 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.02 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2018 AT 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 2018 AT 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.
