Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 18,866,756 km of Earth in 2024
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
53550 (2000 BF19) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2000 BF19 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2000 BF19 orbits the sun every 668 days (1.83 years), coming as close as 0.87 AU and reaching as far as 2.12 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2000 BF19 is probably between 0.391 to 0.875 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2000 BF19'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.
2000 BF19 has 15 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2024 | 18,866,756 | 10.220 |
| Sept. 8, 2044 | 24,287,203 | 15.337 |
| Aug. 26, 2055 | 7,047,542 | 10.888 |
| July 29, 2066 | 18,857,809 | 9.212 |
| June 17, 2077 | 24,834,190 | 9.293 |
| May 6, 2088 | 19,183,045 | 9.758 |
| April 20, 2099 | 29,252,975 | 14.945 |
| Sept. 11, 2108 | 26,423,051 | 15.769 |
| Aug. 28, 2119 | 7,234,115 | 10.893 |
| July 31, 2130 | 18,504,177 | 9.197 |
| June 19, 2141 | 24,725,090 | 9.320 |
| May 7, 2152 | 19,100,946 | 9.848 |
| Sept. 11, 2172 | 24,923,107 | 15.411 |
| Aug. 26, 2183 | 7,750,293 | 10.585 |
| July 24, 2194 | 20,793,561 | 9.319 |
Images and Observations
2000 BF19's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 4, 1991. It was last officially observed on Nov. 23, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 271 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 2000 BF19:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.495 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4197
- Inclination: 7.18°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 313.2°
- Argument of Periapsis: 324.91°
- Mean Anomaly: 211.63°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.505 km
- Magnitude: 19.16
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 668 days (1.83 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.35 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.12 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.87 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 53550 (2000 BF19) 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 2000 BF19 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.
