Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 933,449 km of Earth in 2101
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
399457 (2002 PD43) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 PD43 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 PD43 orbits the sun every 1,450 days (3.97 years), coming as close as 0.11 AU and reaching as far as 4.90 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 PD43 is probably between 0.367 to 0.820 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
Close Approaches
2002 PD43's orbit is 0.03 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.
2002 PD43 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 6, 2101 | 933,449 | 39.550 |
| Aug. 6, 2156 | 5,154,008 | 38.754 |
Images and Observations
2002 PD43's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 7, 2002. It was last officially observed on Aug. 20, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 179 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 2002 PD43:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.507 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.9562
- Inclination: 25.94°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 315.03°
- Argument of Periapsis: 211.0°
- Mean Anomaly: 124.63°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.474 km
- Magnitude: 19.3
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,450 days (3.97 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.81 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.90 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.11 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 399457 (2002 PD43) 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 2002 PD43 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.
