Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 9,266,376 km of Earth in 2019
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2018 BP is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2018 BP as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2018 BP orbits the sun every 709 days (1.94 years), coming as close as 0.94 AU and reaching as far as 2.18 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2018 BP is probably between 0.205 to 0.459 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2018 BP has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 0.95 hours.
Close Approaches
2018 BP's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2018 BP has 9 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 15, 2019 | 9,266,376 | 6.618 |
| Sept. 3, 2021 | 25,662,877 | 12.877 |
| Dec. 15, 2052 | 12,415,203 | 9.363 |
| Sept. 18, 2054 | 4,625,804 | 8.635 |
| Dec. 23, 2083 | 22,486,437 | 11.824 |
| Sept. 25, 2085 | 646,718 | 7.657 |
| Sept. 4, 2087 | 25,026,267 | 12.748 |
| Dec. 17, 2146 | 14,414,128 | 9.866 |
| Sept. 20, 2150 | 3,982,281 | 8.487 |
Images and Observations
2018 BP's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 21, 2017. It was last officially observed on March 2, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 306 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 BP:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.557 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3979
- Inclination: 3.33°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 183.29°
- Argument of Periapsis: 216.5°
- Mean Anomaly: 354.16°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.265 km
- Magnitude: 20.56
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 709 days (1.94 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.89 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.18 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.94 AU
- Rotation Period: 0.95 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2018 BP 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 BP 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.
