2023 ML3 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2023 ML3 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 ML3 orbits the sun every 1,140 days (3.12 years), coming as close as 0.83 AU and reaching as far as 3.43 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2023 ML3 is probably between 0.006 to 0.013 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
2023 ML3'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.
2023 ML3 has 3 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2023 | 260,458 | 14.717 |
| Oct. 22, 2026 | 11,960,926 | 14.632 |
| June 15, 2132 | 19,466,622 | 18.428 |
2023 ML3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 21, 2023. It was last officially observed on June 24, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 20 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 2023 ML3 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.