Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a basketball court
- Will pass within 4,539,201 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2021 MX is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2021 MX as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2021 MX orbits the sun every 1,520 days (4.16 years), coming as close as 0.30 AU and reaching as far as 4.87 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2021 MX is probably between 0.109 to 0.244 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a basketball court.
Close Approaches
2021 MX's orbit is 0.02 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.
2021 MX has 1 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2021 | 4,539,201 | 32.579 |
Images and Observations
2021 MX's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 18, 2021. It was last officially observed on July 8, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 70 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 2021 MX:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.588 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.8825
- Inclination: 18.29°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 267.2°
- Argument of Periapsis: 236.69°
- Mean Anomaly: 203.71°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.141 km
- Magnitude: 21.93
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,520 days (4.16 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.52 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.87 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.30 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2021 MX 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 2021 MX 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.
