Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest
- Will pass within 12,065,306 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
159402 (1999 AP10) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 1999 AP10 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.
1999 AP10 orbits the sun every 1,340 days (3.67 years), coming as close as 1.02 AU and reaching as far as 3.74 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1999 AP10 is probably between 1.261 to 2.819 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of 1999 AP10 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 7.92 hours.
Close Approaches
1999 AP10's orbit is 0.08 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.
1999 AP10 has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 19, 2020 | 12,065,306 | 8.076 |
| Dec. 1, 2031 | 25,248,444 | 9.971 |
| Sept. 29, 2156 | 23,813,010 | 12.807 |
| Sept. 27, 2167 | 29,396,824 | 13.991 |
| Oct. 1, 2178 | 23,585,186 | 12.346 |
| Oct. 16, 2189 | 12,606,757 | 8.664 |
Images and Observations
1999 AP10's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 15, 1999. It was last officially observed on May 28, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 5,347 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 1999 AP10:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.38 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5721
- Inclination: 7.57°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 356.84°
- Argument of Periapsis: 47.61°
- Mean Anomaly: 279.67°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.627 km
- Magnitude: 16.62
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,340 days (3.67 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.32 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.74 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.02 AU
- Rotation Period: 7.92 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 159402 (1999 AP10) 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 1999 AP10 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.
