Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 19,578,165 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
414990 (2011 EM51) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 EM51 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 EM51 orbits the sun every 555 days (1.52 years), coming as close as 0.88 AU and reaching as far as 1.76 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 EM51 is probably between 0.073 to 0.324 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2011 EM51's orbit is 0.01 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.
2011 EM51 has 18 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9, 2020 | 19,578,165 | 12.703 |
| April 25, 2052 | 4,990,174 | 9.072 |
| June 14, 2055 | 20,165,257 | 7.339 |
| Aug. 11, 2058 | 13,544,220 | 6.850 |
| Sept. 8, 2061 | 14,227,338 | 11.637 |
| April 13, 2093 | 27,828,741 | 14.280 |
| April 30, 2096 | 6,389,638 | 8.025 |
| June 29, 2099 | 20,821,689 | 7.485 |
| Aug. 28, 2102 | 5,132,567 | 7.987 |
| Sept. 13, 2105 | 23,775,919 | 13.542 |
| April 20, 2140 | 12,758,067 | 11.168 |
| May 19, 2143 | 14,508,965 | 6.792 |
| July 11, 2146 | 20,352,447 | 7.387 |
| Aug. 29, 2149 | 4,584,710 | 8.086 |
| Sept. 11, 2152 | 18,948,254 | 12.582 |
| April 20, 2193 | 15,109,688 | 11.690 |
| May 6, 2196 | 9,237,726 | 7.361 |
| June 23, 2199 | 20,756,875 | 7.429 |
Images and Observations
2011 EM51's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 10, 2011. It was last officially observed on Oct. 11, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 272 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2011 EM51 can be reached with a journey of 450 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 11.967 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 1 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2011 EM51.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2011 EM51:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.321 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3351
- Inclination: 1.86°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 134.16°
- Argument of Periapsis: 142.24°
- Mean Anomaly: 25.94°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.199 km
- Magnitude: 21.9
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 555 days (1.52 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 25.89 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.76 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.88 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 414990 (2011 EM51) 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 2011 EM51 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.
