Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 4,519,260 km of Earth in 2024
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
363305 (2002 NV16) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 NV16 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 NV16 orbits the sun every 503 days (1.38 years), coming as close as 0.97 AU and reaching as far as 1.51 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 NV16 is probably between 0.091 to 0.406 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2002 NV16 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 0.91 hours.
Close Approaches
2002 NV16'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.
2002 NV16 has 13 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 24, 2024 | 4,519,260 | 4.873 |
| Aug. 9, 2053 | 7,952,955 | 5.595 |
| Sept. 5, 2064 | 5,720,605 | 4.320 |
| Oct. 6, 2075 | 5,159,363 | 4.303 |
| Oct. 22, 2086 | 4,394,966 | 4.708 |
| Nov. 12, 2097 | 20,390,715 | 8.610 |
| July 26, 2115 | 24,935,964 | 9.396 |
| Aug. 17, 2126 | 5,787,202 | 4.892 |
| Aug. 29, 2137 | 5,399,545 | 4.411 |
| Sept. 1, 2148 | 5,474,937 | 4.376 |
| Aug. 27, 2159 | 5,364,209 | 4.483 |
| Aug. 10, 2170 | 8,055,750 | 5.633 |
| Nov. 9, 2196 | 14,319,038 | 7.212 |
Images and Observations
2002 NV16's orbit is determined by observations dating back to July 13, 2002. It was last officially observed on March 15, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 421 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2002 NV16 can be reached with a journey of 218 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 7.97 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 41,943 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2002 NV16.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2002 NV16:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.237 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2198
- Inclination: 3.5°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 183.31°
- Argument of Periapsis: 179.25°
- Mean Anomaly: 86.02°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.249 km
- Magnitude: 21.41
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 503 days (1.38 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 26.75 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.51 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.97 AU
- Rotation Period: 0.91 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 363305 (2002 NV16) 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 2002 NV16 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.
