2022 SN21 is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2022 SN21 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.
2022 SN21 orbits the sun every 489 days (1.34 years), coming as close as 1.02 AU and reaching as far as 1.41 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2022 SN21 is probably between 0.008 to 0.036 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
2022 SN21'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.
2022 SN21 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 26, 2022 | 3,132,333 | 3.260 |
| Oct. 11, 2026 | 14,192,221 | 5.219 |
2022 SN21's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 23, 2022. It was last officially observed on Oct. 9, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 41 observations used to determine its orbit.
2022 SN21 can be reached with a journey of 370 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 7.077 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 133,629 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2022 SN21.
The position of 2022 SN21 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.