Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.98 km diameter)
- Will pass within 15,337,220 km of Earth in 2019
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
419880 (2011 AH37) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 AH37 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 AH37 orbits the sun every 1,490 days (4.08 years), coming as close as 0.84 AU and reaching as far as 4.26 AU from the sun. 2011 AH37 is about 1.0 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2011 AH37's orbit is 0.04 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 AH37 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2019 | 15,337,220 | 17.797 |
| Jan. 21, 2185 | 25,602,526 | 16.370 |
Images and Observations
2011 AH37's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 24, 2010. It was last officially observed on March 21, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 190 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 2011 AH37:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.548 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6721
- Inclination: 9.66°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 102.06°
- Argument of Periapsis: 322.36°
- Mean Anomaly: 59.73°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.98200 km
- Magnitude: 19.83
- Albedo: 0.026
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,490 days (4.08 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.60 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.26 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.84 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 419880 (2011 AH37) 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 2011 AH37 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.
