138868 (2000 XR15)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Mars-crossing Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

138868 (2000 XR15) is a mid-sized asteroid with an orbit that crosses the orbit of Mars. NASA JPL has not classified 2000 XR15 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2000 XR15 orbits the sun every 738 days (2.02 years), coming as close as 1.43 AU and reaching as far as 1.77 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2000 XR15 is probably between 0.926 to 2.070 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.

The rotation of 2000 XR15 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.65 hours.

No Close Approaches

2000 XR15's orbit is 0.42 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

2000 XR15's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 1, 1994. It was last officially observed on March 13, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,917 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 2000 XR15:

• 2135 Aristaeus (1977 HA)
• 26379 (1999 HZ1)
• 31662 (1999 HP11)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 138868 (2000 XR15) 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 2000 XR15 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.