Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon (1.17 km diameter)
- Will pass within 28,337,578 km of Earth in 2072
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
26817 (1987 QB) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 1987 QB 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.
1987 QB orbits the sun every 1,710 days (4.68 years), coming as close as 1.14 AU and reaching as far as 4.47 AU from the sun. 1987 QB is about 1.2 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
Close Approaches
1987 QB's orbit is 0.13 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.
1987 QB has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 30, 2072 | 28,337,578 | 5.547 |
| July 31, 2163 | 26,522,549 | 6.050 |
Images and Observations
1987 QB's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 31, 1987. It was last officially observed on Nov. 19, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 108 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 1987 QB:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.804 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.594
- Inclination: 3.5°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 153.19°
- Argument of Periapsis: 156.57°
- Mean Anomaly: 253.0°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 1.17200 km
- Magnitude: 19.49
- Albedo: 0.027
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,710 days (4.68 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.84 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.47 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.14 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 26817 (1987 QB) 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 1987 QB 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.
