Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
1979 XB is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1979 XB as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1979 XB orbits the sun every 1,210 days (3.31 years), coming as close as 0.65 AU and reaching as far as 3.81 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1979 XB is probably between 0.506 to 1.133 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
1979 XB's orbit is 0.02 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.
NASA Sentry has assessed impact risk for 4 very close approach scenarios. Here are the top scenarios ordered by probability of impact:
| Date | Probability of Impact (%) | Impact Energy (Mt) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 14, 2113 | 0.00006 | 30260.0 |
| Dec. 12, 2056 | 0.00002 | 41990.0 |
| Dec. 16, 2086 | 0.00001 | 25840.0 |
| Dec. 16, 2102 | 0.00000 | 25170.0 |
Images and Observations
1979 XB's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 11, 1979. It was last officially observed on Dec. 15, 1979. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 18 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 1979 XB:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2444221.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.228 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7084
- Inclination: 24.73°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 86.06°
- Argument of Periapsis: 75.58°
- Mean Anomaly: 346.32°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.654 km
- Magnitude: 18.6
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,210 days (3.31 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.03 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.81 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.65 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 1979 XB 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 1979 XB 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.
