Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
  • Comparable in size to the city of Boston (10.80 km diameter)
  • Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
  • Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

Eric is a large asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified Eric 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.

Eric orbits the sun every 1,030 days (2.82 years), coming as close as 1.10 AU and reaching as far as 2.90 AU from the sun. Eric is about 10.8 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the city of Boston.

The rotation of Eric has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 12.06 hours.

Eric's spectral type None (Tholen) / S (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain and .

No Close Approaches

Eric's orbit is 0.19 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.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

Eric's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 7, 1975. It was last officially observed on Aug. 5, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 4,129 observations used to determine its orbit.

Scientists have been able to determine this object's shape:

View asteroid Eric in 3D.

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 Eric:

References

Search

   or view a random object

Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.001 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.4493
  • Inclination: 17.43°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 358.42°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 52.58°
  • Mean Anomaly: 208.7°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 10.80000 km
  • Magnitude: 12.56
  • Albedo: 0.176
  • Spectral type (SMASS): S

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,030 days (2.82 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.13 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.90 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 1.10 AU
  • Rotation Period: 12.06 hours
  • Approx. Composition: and .

Map Comparison

Click to load map

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of Eric 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.