Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.85 km diameter)
- Will pass within 28,396,137 km of Earth in 2040
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
523816 (2009 ST103) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2009 ST103 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2009 ST103 orbits the sun every 1,620 days (4.44 years), coming as close as 0.76 AU and reaching as far as 4.64 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. 2009 ST103 is about 0.9 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2009 ST103's orbit is 0.04 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.
2009 ST103 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 25, 2040 | 28,396,137 | 15.409 |
| Nov. 8, 2071 | 11,536,500 | 17.238 |
| Oct. 23, 2111 | 23,244,077 | 23.035 |
| March 12, 2143 | 28,988,935 | 17.565 |
Images and Observations
2009 ST103's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 27, 2000. It was last officially observed on Oct. 19, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 153 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 2009 ST103:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.7 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7182
- Inclination: 15.74°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 226.45°
- Argument of Periapsis: 234.65°
- Mean Anomaly: 37.5°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.85100 km
- Magnitude: 18.14
- Albedo: 0.141
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,620 days (4.44 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.13 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.64 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.76 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 523816 (2009 ST103) 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 2009 ST103 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.
