Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 7,991,086 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2019 RU3 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2019 RU3 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2019 RU3 orbits the sun every 759 days (2.08 years), coming as close as 0.36 AU and reaching as far as 2.89 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2019 RU3 is probably between 0.649 to 1.452 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2019 RU3's orbit is 0.05 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.
2019 RU3 has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 29, 2021 | 7,991,086 | 31.081 |
| Nov. 1, 2048 | 10,682,783 | 29.146 |
| Nov. 7, 2075 | 28,062,893 | 25.979 |
| Oct. 23, 2100 | 25,350,599 | 35.006 |
| Oct. 29, 2127 | 8,682,714 | 31.752 |
| Nov. 1, 2154 | 5,423,212 | 29.959 |
| Nov. 5, 2181 | 20,441,410 | 27.092 |
Images and Observations
2019 RU3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 28, 2016. It was last officially observed on Oct. 24, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 165 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 2019 RU3:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.629 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.776
- Inclination: 34.25°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 40.1°
- Argument of Periapsis: 110.83°
- Mean Anomaly: 304.02°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.838 km
- Magnitude: 18.06
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 759 days (2.08 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.35 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.89 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.36 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2019 RU3 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 above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2019 RU3 to create an approximate landscape rendering with Mount Everest in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
