112493 (2002 PR6)

Mid-sized Mars-crossing Asteroid

Space Reference » Mars-crossing Asteroids » 112493 (2002 PR6)

Key Facts

Overview

112493 (2002 PR6) is a mid-sized asteroid with an orbit that crosses the orbit of Mars. NASA JPL has not classified 2002 PR6 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2002 PR6 orbits the sun every 1,120 days (3.07 years), coming as close as 1.40 AU and reaching as far as 2.83 AU from the sun. 2002 PR6 is about 1.7 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.

No Close Approaches

2002 PR6's orbit is 0.46 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.

Images and Observations

2002 PR6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 23, 1995. It was last officially observed on June 26, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,371 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 2002 PR6:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 2.117 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.3383
  • Inclination: 13.42°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 142.6°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 310.94°
  • Mean Anomaly: 190.53°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 1.72900 km
  • Magnitude: 15.76
  • Albedo: 0.444

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 1,120 days (3.07 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.56 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.83 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 1.40 AU

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 112493 (2002 PR6) 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 2002 PR6 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.