Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2022 AP7 is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2022 AP7 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2022 AP7 orbits the sun every 1,830 days (5.01 years), coming as close as 0.83 AU and reaching as far as 5.01 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2022 AP7 is probably between 0.909 to 2.033 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
No Close Approaches
2022 AP7's orbit is 0.05 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
2022 AP7's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 20, 2017. It was last officially observed on Nov. 2, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 42 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 2022 AP7:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.923 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.715
- Inclination: 13.83°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 192.38°
- Argument of Periapsis: 113.58°
- Mean Anomaly: 104.78°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.173 km
- Magnitude: 17.33
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,830 days (5.01 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 17.38 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 5.01 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.83 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2022 AP7 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 2022 AP7 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.
