Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.54 km diameter)
- Will pass within 21,494,355 km of Earth in 2131
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
455299 (2002 EL6) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 EL6 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 EL6 orbits the sun every 1,280 days (3.50 years), coming as close as 0.97 AU and reaching as far as 3.63 AU from the sun. 2002 EL6 is about 0.5 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2002 EL6'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.
2002 EL6 has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 3, 2131 | 21,494,355 | 12.895 |
| Aug. 1, 2138 | 20,204,353 | 12.429 |
| Aug. 9, 2145 | 26,605,738 | 14.164 |
| July 30, 2152 | 18,589,936 | 12.179 |
| July 13, 2159 | 12,494,111 | 10.704 |
| July 4, 2166 | 10,761,428 | 10.479 |
| Aug. 2, 2173 | 20,900,044 | 12.538 |
Images and Observations
2002 EL6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 10, 2002. It was last officially observed on April 7, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 523 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 2002 EL6:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.302 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5766
- Inclination: 9.51°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 84.93°
- Argument of Periapsis: 186.57°
- Mean Anomaly: 33.28°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.53700 km
- Magnitude: 18.06
- Albedo: 0.386
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,280 days (3.50 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.57 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.63 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.97 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 455299 (2002 EL6) 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 2002 EL6 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.
