Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 14,069,743 km of Earth in 2047
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
526587 (2006 TB) is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2006 TB as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2006 TB orbits the sun every 713 days (1.95 years), coming as close as 1.06 AU and reaching as far as 2.07 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2006 TB is probably between 0.262 to 0.586 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
Close Approaches
2006 TB's orbit is 0.05 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.
2006 TB has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 16, 2047 | 14,069,743 | 15.652 |
| Sept. 18, 2088 | 22,308,676 | 16.010 |
| Sept. 5, 2090 | 24,235,792 | 15.994 |
| Sept. 9, 2131 | 14,699,626 | 15.604 |
| Sept. 8, 2172 | 16,083,143 | 15.659 |
Images and Observations
2006 TB's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 1, 2006. It was last officially observed on March 10, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 48 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 2006 TB:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.562 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3245
- Inclination: 27.57°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 169.31°
- Argument of Periapsis: 180.98°
- Mean Anomaly: 251.54°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.338 km
- Magnitude: 20.03
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 713 days (1.95 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.83 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.07 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.06 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 526587 (2006 TB) 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 2006 TB 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.
