Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a basketball court
- Will pass within 14,948,757 km of Earth in 2022
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2022 RB is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2022 RB as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2022 RB orbits the sun every 1,270 days (3.48 years), coming as close as 0.82 AU and reaching as far as 3.78 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2022 RB is probably between 0.130 to 0.291 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a basketball court.
Close Approaches
2022 RB'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.
2022 RB has 1 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 27, 2022 | 14,948,757 | 16.941 |
Images and Observations
2022 RB's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 1, 2022. It was last officially observed on Oct. 17, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 109 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 2022 RB:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.3 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6439
- Inclination: 4.63°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 248.53°
- Argument of Periapsis: 22.08°
- Mean Anomaly: 119.36°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.168 km
- Magnitude: 21.55
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,270 days (3.48 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.70 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.78 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.82 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2022 RB 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 2022 RB 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.
