Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 6,962,813 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2020 PP is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2020 PP as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2020 PP orbits the sun every 380 days (1.04 years), coming as close as 0.94 AU and reaching as far as 1.12 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2020 PP is probably between 0.118 to 0.528 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.
Close Approaches
2020 PP'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.
2020 PP has 28 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2021 | 6,962,813 | 8.366 |
| Aug. 10, 2021 | 23,640,600 | 7.512 |
| July 21, 2022 | 15,792,883 | 8.175 |
| Jan. 19, 2046 | 13,070,305 | 8.942 |
| Aug. 16, 2046 | 28,545,406 | 7.618 |
| Feb. 14, 2047 | 25,309,739 | 8.485 |
| July 25, 2047 | 12,361,262 | 7.778 |
| Jan. 13, 2071 | 25,965,572 | 10.487 |
| Feb. 4, 2072 | 13,012,060 | 7.932 |
| July 30, 2072 | 13,434,266 | 7.432 |
| July 17, 2073 | 28,853,437 | 9.785 |
| Jan. 30, 2097 | 7,362,025 | 7.933 |
| Aug. 2, 2097 | 16,481,894 | 7.417 |
| July 18, 2098 | 24,562,352 | 9.187 |
| Jan. 15, 2121 | 22,436,875 | 10.024 |
| Feb. 8, 2122 | 17,217,761 | 8.058 |
| July 29, 2122 | 12,153,018 | 7.523 |
| Jan. 22, 2146 | 10,107,359 | 8.650 |
| Aug. 14, 2146 | 25,777,368 | 7.567 |
| Feb. 19, 2147 | 28,988,530 | 8.772 |
| July 24, 2147 | 14,280,622 | 8.001 |
| Jan. 23, 2171 | 8,743,452 | 8.534 |
| Aug. 13, 2171 | 24,833,147 | 7.549 |
| Feb. 19, 2172 | 29,893,465 | 8.854 |
| July 23, 2172 | 14,566,496 | 8.058 |
| Jan. 17, 2196 | 21,027,141 | 9.844 |
| Feb. 7, 2197 | 17,567,144 | 8.077 |
| July 28, 2197 | 11,817,138 | 7.528 |
Images and Observations
2020 PP's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 21, 2017. It was last officially observed on Aug. 21, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 193 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2020 PP can be reached with a journey of 362 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 9.408 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 2,954 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2020 PP.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2020 PP:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.027 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.0882
- Inclination: 14.46°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 308.01°
- Argument of Periapsis: 216.81°
- Mean Anomaly: 158.05°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.323 km
- Magnitude: 20.84
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 380 days (1.04 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 29.40 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.12 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.94 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2020 PP 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 2020 PP 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.
