Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest
- Will pass within 11,189,373 km of Earth in 2052
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
Nut is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified Nut 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.
Nut orbits the sun every 1,480 days (4.05 years), coming as close as 0.66 AU and reaching as far as 4.42 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, Nut is probably between 1.970 to 4.406 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to Mount Everest.
Close Approaches
Nut's orbit is 0.05 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.
Nut has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 21, 2052 | 11,189,373 | 20.971 |
| May 3, 2069 | 14,806,823 | 22.378 |
| May 12, 2137 | 13,280,624 | 23.525 |
| May 4, 2172 | 19,373,401 | 19.275 |
Images and Observations
Nut's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 22, 1960. It was last officially observed on July 26, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 165 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 Nut:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.538 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7407
- Inclination: 3.77°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 346.25°
- Argument of Periapsis: 152.83°
- Mean Anomaly: 274.74°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~2.544 km
- Magnitude: 15.65
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,480 days (4.05 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.66 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.42 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.66 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of Nut 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 Nut 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.
