Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building (0.40 km diameter)
- Will pass within 10,345,953 km of Earth in 2050
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
496817 (1989 VB) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1989 VB as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1989 VB orbits the sun every 928 days (2.54 years), coming as close as 1.00 AU and reaching as far as 2.72 AU from the sun. 1989 VB is about 0.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
The rotation of 1989 VB has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 14.53 hours.
Close Approaches
1989 VB'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.
1989 VB has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 29, 2050 | 10,345,953 | 8.470 |
| Oct. 12, 2078 | 2,594,757 | 6.516 |
| Sept. 15, 2129 | 5,089,672 | 6.780 |
| Aug. 24, 2157 | 20,153,960 | 10.473 |
| Oct. 30, 2190 | 8,424,964 | 8.034 |
Images and Observations
1989 VB's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 1, 1989. It was last officially observed on Dec. 27, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 308 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 1989 VB:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.862 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4603
- Inclination: 2.19°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 37.84°
- Argument of Periapsis: 330.91°
- Mean Anomaly: 123.23°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.40000 km
- Magnitude: 19.99
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 928 days (2.54 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.83 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.72 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.00 AU
- Rotation Period: 14.53 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 496817 (1989 VB) 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 1989 VB 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.
