Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest (2.19 km diameter)
- Will pass within 19,003,065 km of Earth in 2032
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
451124 (2009 KC3) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2009 KC3 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2009 KC3 orbits the sun every 2,100 days (5.75 years), coming as close as 0.97 AU and reaching as far as 5.45 AU from the sun. 2009 KC3 is about 2.2 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.
Close Approaches
2009 KC3'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.
2009 KC3 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2032 | 19,003,065 | 12.121 |
| Sept. 10, 2055 | 6,969,963 | 13.266 |
| Sept. 11, 2102 | 20,356,209 | 13.375 |
| Sept. 3, 2108 | 12,624,105 | 11.669 |
| Sept. 12, 2114 | 26,729,823 | 13.949 |
Images and Observations
2009 KC3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 4, 2009. It was last officially observed on Nov. 23, 2015. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 456 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 2009 KC3:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 3.208 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6989
- Inclination: 10.02°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 340.1°
- Argument of Periapsis: 337.31°
- Mean Anomaly: 163.09°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 2.18800 km
- Magnitude: 18.08
- Albedo: 0.023
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 2,100 days (5.75 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 16.62 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 5.45 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.97 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 451124 (2009 KC3) 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 2009 KC3 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.
