Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 26,236,525 km of Earth in 2099
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
6047 (1991 TB1) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1991 TB1 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
1991 TB1 orbits the sun every 641 days (1.75 years), coming as close as 0.94 AU and reaching as far as 1.97 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1991 TB1 is probably between 0.719 to 1.607 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.
1991 TB1's spectral type None (Tholen) / S (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain and .
Close Approaches
1991 TB1's orbit is 0.14 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.
1991 TB1 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2099 | 26,236,525 | 13.072 |
| March 17, 2106 | 21,643,852 | 13.846 |
| March 18, 2113 | 20,966,421 | 14.793 |
| March 19, 2120 | 24,931,618 | 15.989 |
Images and Observations
1991 TB1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 20, 1985. It was last officially observed on Jan. 14, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 802 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 1991 TB1:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460000.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.455 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3521
- Inclination: 23.48°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 6.08°
- Argument of Periapsis: 103.81°
- Mean Anomaly: 265.32°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.928 km
- Magnitude: 17.84
- Spectral type (SMASS): S
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 641 days (1.75 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.69 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.97 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.94 AU
- Approx. Composition: and .
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 6047 (1991 TB1) 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 1991 TB1 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.
