Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest
- Will pass within 28,283,389 km of Earth in 2072
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
Marsyas is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified Marsyas 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.
Marsyas orbits the sun every 1,470 days (4.02 years), coming as close as 0.49 AU and reaching as far as 4.57 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, Marsyas is probably between 1.481 to 3.312 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to Mount Everest.
Close Approaches
Marsyas's orbit is 0.15 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.
Marsyas has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 25, 2072 | 28,283,389 | 63.401 |
| Dec. 28, 2076 | 27,361,721 | 62.335 |
| Dec. 30, 2080 | 26,771,368 | 61.278 |
| Jan. 2, 2085 | 27,438,676 | 60.188 |
Images and Observations
Marsyas's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 18, 2004. It was last officially observed on July 6, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 260 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 Marsyas:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.527 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.8066
- Inclination: 154.35°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 295.48°
- Argument of Periapsis: 298.98°
- Mean Anomaly: 251.1°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.912 km
- Magnitude: 16.27
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,470 days (4.02 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.70 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.57 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.49 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of Marsyas 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 Marsyas 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.
