620055 (2003 BK47)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
• Will pass within 2,355,291 km of Earth in 2134
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

620055 (2003 BK47) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2003 BK47 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2003 BK47 orbits the sun every 1,660 days (4.54 years), coming as close as 0.81 AU and reaching as far as 4.69 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2003 BK47 is probably between 0.746 to 1.667 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 2003 BK47 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 45.10 hours.

Close Approaches

2003 BK47'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.

2003 BK47 has 1 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:

Images and Observations

2003 BK47's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 30, 2003. It was last officially observed on Feb. 19, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 634 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 2003 BK47:

• 36 Atalante (A855 TA)
• 38 Leda (A856 AA)
• 55 Pandora (A858 RB)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 620055 (2003 BK47) 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 2003 BK47 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.