Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 10,796,852 km of Earth in 2036
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
448721 (2011 BN24) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 BN24 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 BN24 orbits the sun every 701 days (1.92 years), coming as close as 0.91 AU and reaching as far as 2.18 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 BN24 is probably between 0.169 to 0.378 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2011 BN24 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 8.00 hours.
Close Approaches
2011 BN24'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.
2011 BN24 has 14 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 5, 2036 | 10,796,852 | 10.515 |
| April 15, 2038 | 5,962,453 | 10.723 |
| Aug. 6, 2059 | 11,022,319 | 10.601 |
| April 14, 2061 | 7,229,428 | 11.017 |
| July 16, 2082 | 14,211,129 | 7.745 |
| April 3, 2084 | 29,344,115 | 15.465 |
| May 16, 2105 | 14,566,413 | 7.704 |
| Aug. 13, 2126 | 16,179,788 | 12.142 |
| April 19, 2128 | 3,011,058 | 9.944 |
| May 29, 2149 | 17,319,168 | 7.822 |
| July 29, 2170 | 10,874,710 | 8.440 |
| April 7, 2172 | 25,156,135 | 14.612 |
| Aug. 15, 2191 | 17,248,073 | 12.455 |
| April 19, 2193 | 4,149,543 | 10.269 |
Images and Observations
2011 BN24's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 28, 2011. It was last officially observed on Oct. 19, 2015. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 78 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 BN24:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.544 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4121
- Inclination: 3.94°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 195.75°
- Argument of Periapsis: 61.83°
- Mean Anomaly: 122.79°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.219 km
- Magnitude: 20.98
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 701 days (1.92 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.96 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.18 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.91 AU
- Rotation Period: 8.00 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 448721 (2011 BN24) 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 BN24 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.
