Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 5,162,709 km of Earth in 2038
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
471240 (2011 BT15) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 BT15 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 BT15 orbits the sun every 537 days (1.47 years), coming as close as 0.90 AU and reaching as far as 1.68 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 BT15 is probably between 0.080 to 0.356 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2011 BT15 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 0.11 hours.
Close Approaches
2011 BT15's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is very close to Earth's orbit.
2011 BT15 has 13 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 28, 2038 | 5,162,709 | 5.948 |
| Sept. 9, 2041 | 16,521,732 | 10.114 |
| Dec. 25, 2060 | 6,489,653 | 5.755 |
| Sept. 6, 2063 | 24,214,242 | 11.672 |
| Jan. 17, 2080 | 18,827,091 | 10.743 |
| Sept. 24, 2082 | 4,768,338 | 6.429 |
| Jan. 7, 2102 | 1,317,331 | 7.214 |
| Oct. 31, 2104 | 12,518,697 | 5.624 |
| Sept. 15, 2107 | 13,175,315 | 9.415 |
| Jan. 13, 2142 | 8,399,423 | 8.627 |
| Nov. 26, 2144 | 12,629,547 | 5.666 |
| Sept. 24, 2147 | 4,272,519 | 7.034 |
| Sept. 8, 2190 | 27,898,076 | 12.412 |
Images and Observations
2011 BT15's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 30, 2007. It was last officially observed on April 25, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 215 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2011 BT15 can be reached with a journey of 322 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 8.909 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 15,103 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2011 BT15.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2011 BT15:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.293 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3024
- Inclination: 1.66°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 105.35°
- Argument of Periapsis: 308.81°
- Mean Anomaly: 239.1°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.218 km
- Magnitude: 21.7
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 537 days (1.47 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 26.19 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.68 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.90 AU
- Rotation Period: 0.11 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 471240 (2011 BT15) 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 BT15 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.
