Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest
- Will pass within 27,420,248 km of Earth in 2124
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
23187 (2000 PN9) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2000 PN9 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2000 PN9 orbits the sun every 917 days (2.51 years), coming as close as 0.76 AU and reaching as far as 2.94 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2000 PN9 is probably between 1.631 to 3.648 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of 2000 PN9 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.53 hours.
Close Approaches
2000 PN9'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.
2000 PN9 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 26, 2124 | 27,420,248 | 28.808 |
| March 2, 2129 | 11,270,815 | 30.030 |
| March 7, 2134 | 3,352,459 | 31.371 |
| March 13, 2139 | 23,711,214 | 33.557 |
Images and Observations
2000 PN9's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 2, 1990. It was last officially observed on Aug. 23, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,093 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 2000 PN9:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.847 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5892
- Inclination: 51.33°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 164.31°
- Argument of Periapsis: 293.52°
- Mean Anomaly: 10.46°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~2.106 km
- Magnitude: 16.06
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 917 days (2.51 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.91 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.94 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.76 AU
- Rotation Period: 2.53 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 23187 (2000 PN9) 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 2000 PN9 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.
