Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (1.00 km diameter)
- Will pass within 14,468,075 km of Earth in 2028
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
9856 (1991 EE) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1991 EE as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1991 EE orbits the sun every 1,230 days (3.37 years), coming as close as 0.84 AU and reaching as far as 3.65 AU from the sun. 1991 EE is about 1.0 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The rotation of 1991 EE has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 3.05 hours.
Close Approaches
1991 EE'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.
1991 EE has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 10, 2028 | 14,468,075 | 17.969 |
| Sept. 6, 2065 | 4,559,419 | 16.338 |
| Aug. 19, 2146 | 16,643,225 | 12.470 |
| Sept. 12, 2173 | 19,822,575 | 18.660 |
Images and Observations
1991 EE's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 13, 1991. It was last officially observed on Jan. 22, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,304 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 EE:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.242 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6258
- Inclination: 9.83°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 168.1°
- Argument of Periapsis: 116.2°
- Mean Anomaly: 197.14°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 1.00000 km
- Magnitude: 17.11
- Albedo: 0.3
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,230 days (3.37 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.83 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.65 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.84 AU
- Rotation Period: 3.05 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 9856 (1991 EE) 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 EE 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.
