Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 29,557,046 km of Earth in 2025
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2020 RY5 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2020 RY5 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2020 RY5 orbits the sun every 1,400 days (3.83 years), coming as close as 0.76 AU and reaching as far as 4.15 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2020 RY5 is probably between 0.410 to 0.916 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
2020 RY5's orbit is 0.18 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 RY5 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2025 | 29,557,046 | 18.890 |
| March 7, 2075 | 26,437,572 | 20.027 |
| March 7, 2122 | 26,536,274 | 19.923 |
| Feb. 17, 2126 | 15,228,468 | 17.419 |
| Feb. 14, 2130 | 12,487,657 | 16.955 |
| Feb. 16, 2134 | 12,509,952 | 17.148 |
| Feb. 17, 2138 | 12,290,190 | 17.180 |
| March 2, 2142 | 23,567,348 | 19.015 |
Images and Observations
2020 RY5's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 14, 2020. It was last officially observed on May 31, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 33 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 2020 RY5:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.454 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6893
- Inclination: 21.18°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 142.34°
- Argument of Periapsis: 336.55°
- Mean Anomaly: 231.13°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.529 km
- Magnitude: 19.06
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,400 days (3.83 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.07 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.15 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.76 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2020 RY5 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 RY5 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.
