Key Facts
- Categorized as a Aten-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 4,604,227 km of Earth in 2067
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
401954 (2002 RW25) is a small asteroid whose orbit could bring it in close proximity to Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 RW25 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 RW25 orbits the sun every 274 days (0.75 years), coming as close as 0.59 AU and reaching as far as 1.06 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 RW25 is probably between 0.287 to 1.285 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
2002 RW25's orbit is 0.02 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 RW25 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 7, 2067 | 4,604,227 | 6.825 |
| Sept. 13, 2070 | 7,574,481 | 5.020 |
| Oct. 11, 2073 | 8,301,161 | 7.562 |
| Aug. 9, 2093 | 3,044,859 | 6.246 |
| Oct. 1, 2096 | 4,533,706 | 5.327 |
| Oct. 11, 2099 | 21,023,262 | 10.393 |
| Aug. 7, 2116 | 21,960,438 | 10.661 |
| Aug. 7, 2183 | 17,060,986 | 9.592 |
Images and Observations
2002 RW25's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 5, 2002. It was last officially observed on Oct. 21, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 154 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2002 RW25 can be reached with a journey of 402 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 10.522 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 4,092 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2002 RW25.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2002 RW25:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 0.8247 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2866
- Inclination: 1.35°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 91.97°
- Argument of Periapsis: 72.14°
- Mean Anomaly: 223.93°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.786 km
- Magnitude: 18.91
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 274 days (0.75 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 32.74 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.06 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.59 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 401954 (2002 RW25) 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 2002 RW25 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.
