Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge (0.83 km diameter)
- Will pass within 24,913,762 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
154993 (2005 EA94) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2005 EA94 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.
2005 EA94 orbits the sun every 682 days (1.87 years), coming as close as 0.51 AU and reaching as far as 2.52 AU from the sun. 2005 EA94 is about 0.8 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 2005 EA94 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 13.76 hours.
Close Approaches
2005 EA94's orbit is 0.07 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.
2005 EA94 has 14 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 15, 2020 | 24,913,762 | 18.282 |
| Aug. 3, 2023 | 14,456,300 | 19.434 |
| Feb. 17, 2048 | 23,385,780 | 18.892 |
| Aug. 3, 2051 | 15,474,189 | 19.168 |
| Feb. 17, 2076 | 23,752,821 | 18.779 |
| Aug. 3, 2079 | 15,629,147 | 19.155 |
| Feb. 18, 2104 | 23,650,337 | 18.856 |
| Aug. 5, 2107 | 15,970,221 | 19.116 |
| Feb. 19, 2132 | 23,463,224 | 19.015 |
| Aug. 5, 2135 | 16,766,724 | 18.929 |
| Feb. 21, 2160 | 22,124,389 | 19.743 |
| Aug. 7, 2163 | 20,525,200 | 17.989 |
| Feb. 24, 2188 | 21,292,735 | 21.478 |
| Aug. 11, 2191 | 28,982,813 | 16.168 |
Images and Observations
2005 EA94's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 1, 2002. It was last officially observed on Aug. 6, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 493 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 2005 EA94:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.517 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6638
- Inclination: 10.32°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 104.07°
- Argument of Periapsis: 309.01°
- Mean Anomaly: 353.47°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.82800 km
- Magnitude: 18.0
- Albedo: 0.195
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 682 days (1.87 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.20 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.52 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.51 AU
- Rotation Period: 13.76 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 154993 (2005 EA94) 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 2005 EA94 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.
