37359 (2001 UM17)

Mid-sized Mars-crossing Asteroid

Space Reference » Mars-crossing Asteroids » 37359 (2001 UM17)

Key Facts

Overview

37359 (2001 UM17) is a mid-sized asteroid with an orbit that crosses the orbit of Mars. NASA JPL has not classified 2001 UM17 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2001 UM17 orbits the sun every 1,210 days (3.31 years), coming as close as 1.49 AU and reaching as far as 2.96 AU from the sun. 2001 UM17 is about 2.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.

No Close Approaches

2001 UM17's orbit is 0.48 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.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2001 UM17's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 3, 1981. It was last officially observed on June 8, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 691 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 2001 UM17:

References

Search

   or view a random object

Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.222 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.3313
  • Inclination: 4.6°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 207.2°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 151.35°
  • Mean Anomaly: 248.72°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 2.37000 km
  • Magnitude: 16.52
  • Albedo: 0.087

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,210 days (3.31 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.98 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.96 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 1.49 AU

Map Comparison

Click to load map

Orbit Simulation

⧉

Sky Map

The position of 37359 (2001 UM17) 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 2001 UM17 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.