Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon (1.45 km diameter)
- Will pass within 13,115,738 km of Earth in 2050
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
471241 (2011 BX18) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 BX18 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 BX18 orbits the sun every 1,780 days (4.87 years), coming as close as 0.78 AU and reaching as far as 4.97 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. 2011 BX18 is about 1.5 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
The rotation of 2011 BX18 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 4.83 hours.
Close Approaches
2011 BX18's orbit is 0.03 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 BX18 has 3 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 5, 2050 | 13,115,738 | 18.407 |
| Aug. 8, 2074 | 11,792,472 | 19.740 |
| July 21, 2117 | 24,029,266 | 17.514 |
Images and Observations
2011 BX18's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 26, 2011. It was last officially observed on Nov. 1, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,099 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 BX18:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.874 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7298
- Inclination: 14.56°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 310.82°
- Argument of Periapsis: 303.95°
- Mean Anomaly: 172.88°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 1.45100 km
- Magnitude: 18.58
- Albedo: 0.044
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,780 days (4.87 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.57 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.97 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.78 AU
- Rotation Period: 4.83 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 471241 (2011 BX18) 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 2011 BX18 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.
