95711 (2003 AK)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Mars-crossing Asteroid
• Comparable in size to Mount Everest (2.58 km diameter)
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

95711 (2003 AK) is a mid-sized asteroid with an orbit that crosses the orbit of Mars. NASA JPL has not classified 2003 AK as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2003 AK orbits the sun every 1,310 days (3.59 years), coming as close as 1.55 AU and reaching as far as 3.14 AU from the sun. 2003 AK is about 2.6 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.

The rotation of 2003 AK has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 100.00 hours.

No Close Approaches

2003 AK's orbit is 0.72 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a very 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

2003 AK's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 18, 1995. It was last officially observed on Nov. 17, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,124 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 2003 AK:

• 27 Euterpe (A853 VA)
• 219 Thusnelda (A880 SA)
• 220 Stephania (A881 KA)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 95711 (2003 AK) 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 2003 AK 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.