Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 3,360,369 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2021 AF8 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2021 AF8 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2021 AF8 orbits the sun every 1,050 days (2.87 years), coming as close as 0.97 AU and reaching as far as 3.06 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2021 AF8 is probably between 0.240 to 0.537 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2021 AF8's orbit is 0.03 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.
2021 AF8 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2021 | 3,360,369 | 9.406 |
| June 4, 2041 | 23,476,410 | 13.291 |
| May 15, 2107 | 5,688,974 | 9.876 |
| March 25, 2130 | 19,804,362 | 11.499 |
Images and Observations
2021 AF8's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 1, 2014. It was last officially observed on July 9, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 398 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 2021 AF8:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.016 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5171
- Inclination: 9.71°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 42.46°
- Argument of Periapsis: 168.99°
- Mean Anomaly: 299.74°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.310 km
- Magnitude: 20.22
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,050 days (2.87 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.89 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.06 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.97 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2021 AF8 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 below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2021 AF8 to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
