Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 4,916,892 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2021 PT is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2021 PT as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2021 PT orbits the sun every 495 days (1.36 years), coming as close as 0.92 AU and reaching as far as 1.53 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2021 PT is probably between 0.074 to 0.329 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2021 PT'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.
2021 PT has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 29, 2021 | 4,916,892 | 7.246 |
| Aug. 24, 2040 | 619,959 | 7.886 |
| Dec. 16, 2092 | 25,773,695 | 6.370 |
| Aug. 28, 2103 | 2,818,691 | 7.506 |
Images and Observations
2021 PT's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 3, 2021. It was last officially observed on March 2, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 323 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2021 PT can be reached with a journey of 354 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 9.38 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 898 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2021 PT.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2021 PT:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.225 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2462
- Inclination: 10.15°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 152.31°
- Argument of Periapsis: 233.99°
- Mean Anomaly: 148.84°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.202 km
- Magnitude: 21.87
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 495 days (1.36 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 26.92 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.53 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.92 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2021 PT 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 PT 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.
