Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 6,081,578 km of Earth in 2023
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
6037 (1988 EG) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1988 EG as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1988 EG orbits the sun every 524 days (1.43 years), coming as close as 0.64 AU and reaching as far as 1.91 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1988 EG is probably between 0.427 to 0.955 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.
The rotation of 1988 EG has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.76 hours.
Close Approaches
1988 EG'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.
1988 EG has 15 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 23, 2023 | 6,081,578 | 14.252 |
| Feb. 27, 2041 | 3,646,490 | 15.023 |
| Aug. 24, 2056 | 9,573,299 | 13.306 |
| Feb. 22, 2064 | 15,868,339 | 11.812 |
| Aug. 22, 2079 | 5,116,355 | 14.822 |
| Feb. 17, 2087 | 23,498,462 | 10.262 |
| Aug. 27, 2102 | 10,484,379 | 13.109 |
| Feb. 28, 2110 | 4,229,126 | 14.440 |
| March 6, 2133 | 16,231,483 | 18.084 |
| Aug. 18, 2138 | 15,081,652 | 17.679 |
| March 7, 2156 | 20,997,317 | 19.041 |
| Aug. 15, 2161 | 23,575,162 | 19.415 |
| Aug. 27, 2171 | 9,264,665 | 13.362 |
| Feb. 26, 2189 | 9,119,730 | 13.198 |
| March 6, 2199 | 12,647,431 | 17.328 |
Images and Observations
1988 EG's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 12, 1988. It was last officially observed on Aug. 8, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 672 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 1988 EG:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.272 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4997
- Inclination: 3.51°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 182.22°
- Argument of Periapsis: 242.29°
- Mean Anomaly: 334.78°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.551 km
- Magnitude: 18.97
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 524 days (1.43 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 26.41 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.91 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.64 AU
- Rotation Period: 2.76 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 6037 (1988 EG) 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 1988 EG 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.
