Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest (2.23 km diameter)
- Will pass within 15,158,451 km of Earth in 2042
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
90075 (2002 VU94) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 VU94 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 VU94 orbits the sun every 1,140 days (3.12 years), coming as close as 0.91 AU and reaching as far as 3.36 AU from the sun. 2002 VU94 is about 2.2 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.
The rotation of 2002 VU94 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 7.88 hours.
Close Approaches
2002 VU94'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 VU94 has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2042 | 15,158,451 | 10.760 |
| June 3, 2067 | 18,979,099 | 10.854 |
| May 18, 2092 | 14,266,899 | 10.912 |
| July 3, 2117 | 21,613,925 | 10.711 |
| June 27, 2142 | 22,406,912 | 10.864 |
| Aug. 3, 2167 | 24,614,169 | 13.593 |
| April 13, 2189 | 26,757,210 | 17.634 |
Images and Observations
2002 VU94's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 25, 1955. It was last officially observed on May 26, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 3,249 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 2002 VU94:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.134 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5758
- Inclination: 8.91°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 226.74°
- Argument of Periapsis: 30.66°
- Mean Anomaly: 2.14°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 2.23300 km
- Magnitude: 15.38
- Albedo: 0.294
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,140 days (3.12 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.36 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.36 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.91 AU
- Rotation Period: 7.88 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 90075 (2002 VU94) 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 2002 VU94 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.
