Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 15,755,252 km of Earth in 2028
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
451370 (2011 AK5) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 AK5 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 AK5 orbits the sun every 473 days (1.30 years), coming as close as 0.91 AU and reaching as far as 1.46 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 AK5 is probably between 0.088 to 0.393 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2011 AK5'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 AK5 has 16 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| April 27, 2028 | 15,755,252 | 7.544 |
| Aug. 15, 2037 | 9,927,160 | 5.780 |
| April 22, 2050 | 22,041,550 | 9.645 |
| July 9, 2059 | 17,073,990 | 5.883 |
| Sept. 11, 2068 | 17,757,751 | 9.833 |
| May 28, 2081 | 16,847,604 | 5.285 |
| Sept. 4, 2090 | 7,069,004 | 7.452 |
| June 5, 2103 | 17,234,995 | 5.397 |
| Sept. 13, 2112 | 18,186,340 | 9.899 |
| July 19, 2125 | 15,957,773 | 5.883 |
| April 27, 2138 | 18,106,641 | 8.507 |
| Aug. 20, 2147 | 9,230,316 | 5.834 |
| April 28, 2160 | 16,372,161 | 7.867 |
| Aug. 8, 2169 | 12,338,926 | 5.741 |
| April 22, 2182 | 27,508,062 | 10.998 |
| June 26, 2191 | 17,754,673 | 5.800 |
Images and Observations
2011 AK5's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 8, 2011. It was last officially observed on Dec. 17, 2019. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 110 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2011 AK5 can be reached with a journey of 362 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 8.947 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 9,923 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2011 AK5.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2011 AK5:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.188 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2307
- Inclination: 5.52°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 316.79°
- Argument of Periapsis: 325.7°
- Mean Anomaly: 113.3°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.241 km
- Magnitude: 21.48
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 473 days (1.30 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 27.32 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.46 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.91 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 451370 (2011 AK5) 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 AK5 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.
