Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 12,161,286 km of Earth in 2044
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
488515 (2001 FE90) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2001 FE90 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2001 FE90 orbits the sun every 984 days (2.69 years), coming as close as 0.98 AU and reaching as far as 2.89 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 FE90 is probably between 0.192 to 0.429 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2001 FE90 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 0.48 hours.
Close Approaches
2001 FE90's orbit is 0.01 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.
2001 FE90 has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 3, 2044 | 12,161,286 | 8.637 |
| April 15, 2079 | 29,527,022 | 12.245 |
| July 4, 2087 | 7,293,519 | 10.996 |
| April 17, 2114 | 28,544,429 | 12.008 |
| July 12, 2122 | 17,484,103 | 12.835 |
| May 15, 2149 | 17,555,716 | 8.971 |
| June 8, 2184 | 10,904,697 | 8.744 |
Images and Observations
2001 FE90's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 26, 2001. It was last officially observed on March 18, 2017. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 292 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 2001 FE90:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.936 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4943
- Inclination: 8.79°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 98.49°
- Argument of Periapsis: 145.19°
- Mean Anomaly: 110.53°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.247 km
- Magnitude: 20.71
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 984 days (2.69 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.40 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.89 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.98 AU
- Rotation Period: 0.48 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 488515 (2001 FE90) 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 2001 FE90 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.
