Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
- Will pass within 11,932,989 km of Earth in 2056
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
311044 (2004 BB103) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 BB103 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2004 BB103 orbits the sun every 962 days (2.63 years), coming as close as 0.72 AU and reaching as far as 3.09 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 BB103 is probably between 1.006 to 2.249 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
Close Approaches
2004 BB103's orbit is 0.04 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.
2004 BB103 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2056 | 11,932,989 | 32.504 |
| June 20, 2085 | 7,022,437 | 33.932 |
| June 14, 2114 | 25,920,941 | 36.408 |
| June 26, 2164 | 16,587,505 | 32.190 |
| June 22, 2193 | 7,651,436 | 33.724 |
Images and Observations
2004 BB103's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 31, 2004. It was last officially observed on Oct. 29, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 320 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 2004 BB103:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.907 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6222
- Inclination: 55.86°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 271.08°
- Argument of Periapsis: 71.49°
- Mean Anomaly: 182.52°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.299 km
- Magnitude: 17.11
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 962 days (2.63 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.57 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.09 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.72 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 311044 (2004 BB103) 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 2004 BB103 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.
