Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest (1.85 km diameter)
- Will pass within 24,334,890 km of Earth in 2023
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
Mithra is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified Mithra as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
Mithra orbits the sun every 1,190 days (3.26 years), coming as close as 0.74 AU and reaching as far as 3.66 AU from the sun. Mithra is about 1.8 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of Mithra has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 67.50 hours.
Close Approaches
Mithra's orbit is 0.05 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.
Mithra has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| April 11, 2023 | 24,334,890 | 13.453 |
| July 26, 2036 | 23,302,204 | 13.449 |
| April 1, 2059 | 15,428,365 | 14.849 |
| Aug. 24, 2085 | 20,085,473 | 21.140 |
| Aug. 18, 2134 | 7,922,374 | 17.945 |
| March 15, 2144 | 24,296,869 | 22.056 |
| April 15, 2157 | 23,472,682 | 13.356 |
| Aug. 27, 2183 | 20,192,216 | 21.224 |
Images and Observations
Mithra's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 29, 1987. It was last officially observed on July 30, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,489 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 Mithra:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.201 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6625
- Inclination: 3.04°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 82.22°
- Argument of Periapsis: 168.9°
- Mean Anomaly: 36.49°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 1.84900 km
- Magnitude: 15.62
- Albedo: 0.297
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,190 days (3.26 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.12 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.66 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.74 AU
- Rotation Period: 67.50 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of Mithra 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 Mithra 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.
