Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 5,571,081 km of Earth in 2031
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
423709 (2006 BQ6) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2006 BQ6 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2006 BQ6 orbits the sun every 652 days (1.79 years), coming as close as 0.88 AU and reaching as far as 2.07 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2006 BQ6 is probably between 0.298 to 0.667 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.
The rotation of 2006 BQ6 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 4.42 hours.
Close Approaches
2006 BQ6's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2006 BQ6 has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 29, 2031 | 5,571,081 | 11.404 |
| Aug. 6, 2072 | 8,364,342 | 13.468 |
| Aug. 3, 2097 | 3,375,234 | 12.606 |
| Aug. 6, 2131 | 5,822,761 | 13.034 |
| July 3, 2140 | 25,554,965 | 9.750 |
| Aug. 11, 2174 | 14,862,145 | 14.535 |
| July 20, 2183 | 16,035,002 | 10.163 |
Images and Observations
2006 BQ6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 22, 2006. It was last officially observed on Oct. 29, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 606 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 2006 BQ6:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.472 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.405
- Inclination: 13.0°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 307.62°
- Argument of Periapsis: 304.79°
- Mean Anomaly: 235.8°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.385 km
- Magnitude: 19.75
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 652 days (1.79 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.56 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.07 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.88 AU
- Rotation Period: 4.42 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 423709 (2006 BQ6) 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 2006 BQ6 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.
