Comet 169P/NEAT is an object whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has classified 169P/NEAT 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.
169P/NEAT orbits the sun every 1,540 days (4.22 years), coming as close as 0.61 AU and reaching as far as 4.60 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical.
The rotation of 169P/NEAT has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 8.37 hours.
169P/NEAT's orbit is 0.14 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.
169P/NEAT has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 11, 2026 | 25,008,305 | 19.897 |
| Jan. 15, 2056 | 25,870,265 | 19.255 |
| July 24, 2072 | 29,139,587 | 26.867 |
| Jan. 30, 2169 | 25,813,385 | 26.669 |
| July 26, 2185 | 17,793,121 | 25.858 |
| Jan. 30, 2194 | 15,141,050 | 25.187 |
169P/NEAT's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 7, 1989. It was last officially observed on April 17, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,322 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 169P/NEAT 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.