Key Facts
- Categorized as a Aten-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 22,901,781 km of Earth in 2074
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
66063 (1998 RO1) is a small asteroid whose orbit could bring it in close proximity to Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1998 RO1 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.
1998 RO1 orbits the sun every 360 days (0.99 years), coming as close as 0.28 AU and reaching as far as 1.70 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1998 RO1 is probably between 0.623 to 1.393 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 1998 RO1 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.49 hours.
Close Approaches
1998 RO1's orbit is 0.09 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.
1998 RO1 has 10 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 29, 2074 | 22,901,781 | 21.246 |
| Sept. 28, 2075 | 15,826,474 | 23.017 |
| Sept. 26, 2076 | 14,587,804 | 24.980 |
| Sept. 24, 2077 | 20,436,829 | 27.071 |
| Sept. 21, 2078 | 29,464,827 | 29.284 |
| Oct. 1, 2147 | 23,057,346 | 21.256 |
| Sept. 29, 2148 | 16,101,673 | 23.027 |
| Sept. 27, 2149 | 15,033,860 | 25.016 |
| Sept. 25, 2150 | 20,915,592 | 27.117 |
| Sept. 23, 2151 | 29,913,392 | 29.329 |
Images and Observations
1998 RO1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 12, 1996. It was last officially observed on July 7, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,321 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 1998 RO1:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 0.991 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.72
- Inclination: 22.69°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 351.85°
- Argument of Periapsis: 151.16°
- Mean Anomaly: 27.01°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.804 km
- Magnitude: 18.15
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 360 days (0.99 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 29.95 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.70 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.28 AU
- Rotation Period: 2.49 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 66063 (1998 RO1) 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 1998 RO1 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.
