Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 25,306,182 km of Earth in 2059
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
356991 (1998 QA1) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1998 QA1 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1998 QA1 orbits the sun every 1,110 days (3.04 years), coming as close as 0.98 AU and reaching as far as 3.22 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1998 QA1 is probably between 0.406 to 0.908 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
1998 QA1's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
1998 QA1 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2059 | 25,306,182 | 12.464 |
| July 11, 2062 | 6,670,071 | 9.499 |
| Aug. 9, 2065 | 19,402,199 | 13.756 |
| June 26, 2129 | 10,676,760 | 8.997 |
| Aug. 9, 2132 | 19,867,020 | 13.434 |
Images and Observations
1998 QA1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 19, 1998. It was last officially observed on Feb. 28, 2016. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 198 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 1998 QA1:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.104 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5326
- Inclination: 8.17°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 298.95°
- Argument of Periapsis: 333.07°
- Mean Anomaly: 94.6°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.524 km
- Magnitude: 19.08
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,110 days (3.04 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.62 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.22 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.98 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 356991 (1998 QA1) 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 below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 1998 QA1 to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
