Comet 66P/du Toit is an object whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has classified 66P/du Toit 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.
66P/du Toit orbits the sun every 5,400 days (14.78 years), coming as close as 1.29 AU and reaching as far as 10.76 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical.
66P/du Toit's orbit is 0.44 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.
Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.
66P/du Toit's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 22, 1974. It was last officially observed on Nov. 10, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 547 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 66P/du Toit 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.