Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 7,080,886 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
65717 (1993 BX3) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1993 BX3 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1993 BX3 orbits the sun every 602 days (1.65 years), coming as close as 1.00 AU and reaching as far as 1.79 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1993 BX3 is probably between 0.117 to 0.521 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 1993 BX3 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 20.33 hours.
Close Approaches
1993 BX3'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.
1993 BX3 has 9 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 17, 2021 | 7,080,886 | 3.605 |
| Feb. 7, 2049 | 14,952,409 | 6.400 |
| Nov. 30, 2053 | 26,618,718 | 8.721 |
| Jan. 31, 2082 | 8,967,791 | 4.741 |
| Dec. 1, 2086 | 26,537,388 | 8.688 |
| Feb. 2, 2120 | 9,001,534 | 4.785 |
| Dec. 6, 2124 | 20,117,240 | 7.204 |
| Feb. 9, 2163 | 14,203,796 | 6.247 |
| Dec. 16, 2167 | 12,065,383 | 5.073 |
Images and Observations
1993 BX3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 3, 1992. It was last officially observed on May 16, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 5,561 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
1993 BX3 can be reached with a journey of 346 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 10.285 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 7,130 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 1993 BX3.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 1993 BX3:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.395 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.281
- Inclination: 2.81°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 174.76°
- Argument of Periapsis: 290.96°
- Mean Anomaly: 225.43°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.319 km
- Magnitude: 20.87
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 602 days (1.65 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 25.21 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.79 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.00 AU
- Rotation Period: 20.33 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 65717 (1993 BX3) 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 1993 BX3 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.
