Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest
- Will pass within 25,953,973 km of Earth in 2084
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
214869 (2007 PA8) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2007 PA8 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2007 PA8 orbits the sun every 1,760 days (4.82 years), coming as close as 0.99 AU and reaching as far as 4.71 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2007 PA8 is probably between 1.326 to 2.965 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of 2007 PA8 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 102.24 hours.
Close Approaches
2007 PA8'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.
2007 PA8 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 22, 2084 | 25,953,973 | 14.884 |
| Dec. 7, 2122 | 6,643,394 | 9.125 |
| Oct. 20, 2169 | 22,067,411 | 15.621 |
| Nov. 19, 2183 | 8,926,547 | 10.278 |
Images and Observations
2007 PA8's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 13, 2002. It was last officially observed on May 10, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 775 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 2007 PA8:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.849 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6529
- Inclination: 2.0°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 141.32°
- Argument of Periapsis: 293.81°
- Mean Anomaly: 93.86°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.712 km
- Magnitude: 16.51
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,760 days (4.82 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.61 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.71 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.99 AU
- Rotation Period: 102.24 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 214869 (2007 PA8) 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 above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2007 PA8 to create an approximate landscape rendering with Mount Everest in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
