Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
- Will pass within 26,138,832 km of Earth in 2023
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
88264 (2001 KN20) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2001 KN20 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2001 KN20 orbits the sun every 1,150 days (3.15 years), coming as close as 1.18 AU and reaching as far as 3.12 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 KN20 is probably between 1.025 to 2.291 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
Close Approaches
2001 KN20's orbit is 0.17 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.
2001 KN20 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | 26,138,832 | 7.418 |
| July 18, 2108 | 27,020,702 | 8.181 |
Images and Observations
2001 KN20's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 29, 1998. It was last officially observed on Aug. 7, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,073 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 2001 KN20:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.148 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4519
- Inclination: 12.07°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 104.94°
- Argument of Periapsis: 201.48°
- Mean Anomaly: 13.59°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.323 km
- Magnitude: 17.07
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,150 days (3.15 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.32 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.12 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.18 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 88264 (2001 KN20) 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 2001 KN20 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.
