Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.65 km diameter)
- Will pass within 12,694,124 km of Earth in 2062
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
250620 (2005 GE59) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2005 GE59 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2005 GE59 orbits the sun every 1,120 days (3.07 years), coming as close as 0.84 AU and reaching as far as 3.38 AU from the sun. 2005 GE59 is about 0.7 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The rotation of 2005 GE59 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 5.35 hours.
Close Approaches
2005 GE59'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.
2005 GE59 has 3 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 19, 2062 | 12,694,124 | 14.167 |
| Oct. 11, 2108 | 8,583,097 | 16.881 |
| Oct. 19, 2160 | 13,125,931 | 14.187 |
Images and Observations
2005 GE59's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 18, 2005. It was last officially observed on March 25, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 641 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 2005 GE59:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.109 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6023
- Inclination: 16.08°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 194.75°
- Argument of Periapsis: 243.0°
- Mean Anomaly: 68.11°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.65400 km
- Magnitude: 18.07
- Albedo: 0.260
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,120 days (3.07 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.49 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.38 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.84 AU
- Rotation Period: 5.35 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 250620 (2005 GE59) 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 2005 GE59 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.
