Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.84 km diameter)
- Will pass within 29,537,845 km of Earth in 2063
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
48603 (1995 BC2) is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 1995 BC2 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
1995 BC2 orbits the sun every 970 days (2.66 years), coming as close as 1.09 AU and reaching as far as 2.74 AU from the sun. 1995 BC2 is about 0.8 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
1995 BC2's spectral type None (Tholen) / X (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain iron, nickel, and cobalt.
Close Approaches
1995 BC2's orbit is 0.14 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.
1995 BC2 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 22, 2063 | 29,537,845 | 6.292 |
| Nov. 7, 2071 | 20,446,802 | 4.105 |
| Nov. 24, 2156 | 28,742,360 | 6.183 |
| Nov. 9, 2164 | 20,694,246 | 4.087 |
Images and Observations
1995 BC2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 10, 1986. It was last officially observed on June 28, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 543 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 1995 BC2:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.918 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.43
- Inclination: 5.03°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 328.23°
- Argument of Periapsis: 81.8°
- Mean Anomaly: 314.41°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.84400 km
- Magnitude: 17.81
- Albedo: 0.227
- Spectral type (SMASS): X
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 970 days (2.66 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.51 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.74 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.09 AU
- Approx. Composition: iron, nickel, and cobalt.
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 48603 (1995 BC2) 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 1995 BC2 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.
