Comet 209P/LINEAR is an object whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has classified 209P/LINEAR 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.
209P/LINEAR orbits the sun every 1,840 days (5.04 years), coming as close as 0.91 AU and reaching as far as 4.96 AU from the sun.
209P/LINEAR'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.
209P/LINEAR has 1 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2158 | 23,577,033 | 18.181 |
209P/LINEAR's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 3, 2003. It was last officially observed on Aug. 24, 2019. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,832 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 209P/LINEAR 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.