Key Facts
- Categorized as a Aten-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a school bus or smaller
- Will pass within 21,467,022 km of Earth in 2019
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2023 KQ is a very small asteroid whose orbit could bring it in close proximity to Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2023 KQ 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.
2023 KQ orbits the sun every 290 days (0.79 years), coming as close as 0.66 AU and reaching as far as 1.05 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2023 KQ is probably between 0.018 to 0.081 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
Close Approaches
2023 KQ's orbit is 0.03 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.
2023 KQ has 20 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2019 | 21,467,022 | 7.451 |
| May 22, 2023 | 5,165,451 | 6.412 |
| June 4, 2027 | 20,360,784 | 9.590 |
| April 10, 2042 | 29,033,448 | 9.176 |
| May 5, 2046 | 12,392,362 | 6.373 |
| May 31, 2050 | 7,572,775 | 7.308 |
| April 26, 2069 | 16,325,416 | 6.673 |
| May 27, 2073 | 4,647,944 | 6.802 |
| May 1, 2092 | 13,718,050 | 6.444 |
| May 31, 2096 | 10,015,619 | 7.700 |
| April 12, 2111 | 26,576,253 | 8.671 |
| May 16, 2115 | 8,217,742 | 6.289 |
| June 5, 2119 | 16,708,818 | 8.898 |
| April 16, 2134 | 22,460,580 | 7.699 |
| May 22, 2138 | 5,227,215 | 6.398 |
| June 5, 2142 | 21,058,755 | 9.703 |
| April 12, 2157 | 26,513,029 | 8.646 |
| June 3, 2165 | 14,048,592 | 8.406 |
| April 30, 2184 | 14,362,000 | 6.495 |
| May 30, 2188 | 6,844,174 | 7.165 |
Images and Observations
2023 KQ's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 19, 2023. It was last officially observed on June 1, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 77 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2023 KQ can be reached with a journey of 194 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 10.489 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 867 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2023 KQ.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2023 KQ:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 0.8575 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2256
- Inclination: 10.41°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 240.26°
- Argument of Periapsis: 166.62°
- Mean Anomaly: 340.95°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.050 km
- Magnitude: 24.91
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 290 days (0.79 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 32.17 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.05 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.66 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2023 KQ 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 2023 KQ 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.
