Key Facts
- Categorized as a Aten-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 4,317,644 km of Earth in 2019
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
481394 (2006 SF6) is a very small asteroid whose orbit could bring it in close proximity to Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2006 SF6 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2006 SF6 orbits the sun every 338 days (0.93 years), coming as close as 0.68 AU and reaching as far as 1.22 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2006 SF6 is probably between 0.176 to 0.789 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
The rotation of 2006 SF6 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 11.49 hours.
Close Approaches
2006 SF6's orbit is 0.02 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.
2006 SF6 has 28 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 21, 2019 | 4,317,644 | 7.948 |
| July 9, 2030 | 19,639,985 | 5.664 |
| Oct. 14, 2031 | 29,721,085 | 6.727 |
| Nov. 15, 2032 | 28,807,344 | 14.192 |
| July 17, 2042 | 23,844,690 | 12.142 |
| Nov. 19, 2044 | 5,946,107 | 7.591 |
| July 10, 2055 | 14,760,652 | 7.267 |
| Nov. 17, 2057 | 19,369,353 | 12.280 |
| July 19, 2067 | 27,394,148 | 12.950 |
| Nov. 19, 2069 | 5,879,415 | 7.559 |
| Aug. 14, 2080 | 29,647,038 | 5.938 |
| Nov. 10, 2081 | 16,857,397 | 6.136 |
| Nov. 17, 2093 | 9,094,225 | 6.940 |
| July 17, 2103 | 20,277,323 | 11.014 |
| Nov. 18, 2105 | 15,591,314 | 11.351 |
| Aug. 15, 2115 | 28,890,727 | 5.834 |
| Nov. 16, 2116 | 11,025,416 | 6.596 |
| July 12, 2126 | 14,840,241 | 7.289 |
| Oct. 16, 2127 | 27,795,261 | 6.537 |
| July 18, 2137 | 24,162,387 | 11.977 |
| Nov. 18, 2139 | 14,201,489 | 11.061 |
| Nov. 18, 2150 | 7,655,280 | 7.127 |
| July 11, 2160 | 14,457,456 | 7.601 |
| Oct. 12, 2161 | 28,914,428 | 6.629 |
| Nov. 19, 2173 | 7,406,845 | 7.190 |
| Nov. 16, 2185 | 12,338,961 | 6.506 |
| July 9, 2196 | 16,290,987 | 6.645 |
| Nov. 17, 2198 | 24,801,380 | 13.277 |
Images and Observations
2006 SF6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 17, 2006. It was last officially observed on Oct. 19, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,103 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2006 SF6 can be reached with a journey of 378 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 9.305 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 23,108 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2006 SF6.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2006 SF6:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 0.9501 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2806
- Inclination: 5.84°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 227.96°
- Argument of Periapsis: 305.58°
- Mean Anomaly: 316.22°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.483 km
- Magnitude: 19.97
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 338 days (0.93 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 30.58 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.22 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.68 AU
- Rotation Period: 11.49 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 481394 (2006 SF6) 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 2006 SF6 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.
