Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 19,427,999 km of Earth in 2023
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
98943 (2001 CC21) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2001 CC21 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 CC21 orbits the sun every 383 days (1.05 years), coming as close as 0.81 AU and reaching as far as 1.26 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 CC21 is probably between 0.302 to 1.352 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The rotation of 2001 CC21 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 5.02 hours.
2001 CC21's spectral type None (Tholen) / L (SMASSII) indicates that it is likely to contain magnesium silicate, iron silicate, and aluminum.
Close Approaches
2001 CC21's orbit is 0.08 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 CC21 has 32 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 21, 2023 | 19,427,999 | 4.464 |
| Aug. 28, 2025 | 19,922,053 | 4.340 |
| March 1, 2044 | 13,775,397 | 8.215 |
| May 9, 2045 | 29,023,530 | 7.139 |
| July 10, 2046 | 28,935,923 | 6.963 |
| Sept. 16, 2047 | 14,379,776 | 8.413 |
| Feb. 24, 2065 | 28,332,597 | 12.170 |
| Feb. 16, 2066 | 24,052,482 | 4.286 |
| April 7, 2066 | 22,707,842 | 5.319 |
| Sept. 10, 2068 | 15,613,075 | 5.198 |
| March 7, 2087 | 13,683,299 | 5.874 |
| Aug. 2, 2089 | 24,786,983 | 5.639 |
| Oct. 8, 2089 | 26,302,362 | 4.794 |
| Sept. 20, 2090 | 24,612,484 | 11.232 |
| March 2, 2108 | 15,848,512 | 9.014 |
| May 5, 2109 | 28,154,829 | 6.894 |
| July 6, 2110 | 29,644,868 | 7.191 |
| Sept. 17, 2111 | 13,130,516 | 7.806 |
| March 22, 2130 | 19,175,726 | 4.556 |
| Aug. 31, 2132 | 19,827,430 | 4.243 |
| March 4, 2151 | 13,158,389 | 7.898 |
| May 14, 2152 | 29,401,028 | 7.289 |
| July 15, 2153 | 28,385,948 | 6.748 |
| Sept. 19, 2154 | 16,150,687 | 9.059 |
| Feb. 28, 2172 | 24,224,775 | 11.214 |
| Feb. 7, 2173 | 26,987,618 | 4.848 |
| April 18, 2173 | 24,702,191 | 5.910 |
| Sept. 14, 2175 | 13,612,828 | 5.973 |
| March 11, 2194 | 15,336,320 | 5.250 |
| Aug. 11, 2196 | 23,224,547 | 5.132 |
| Oct. 2, 2196 | 24,010,010 | 4.420 |
| Sept. 23, 2197 | 27,707,331 | 11.955 |
Images and Observations
2001 CC21's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Nov. 10, 1982. It was last officially observed on March 5, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,068 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2001 CC21 can be reached with a journey of 450 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 8.989 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 57,502 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2001 CC21.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2001 CC21:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.032 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2192
- Inclination: 4.81°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 75.46°
- Argument of Periapsis: 179.45°
- Mean Anomaly: 108.83°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.827 km
- Magnitude: 18.8
- Spectral type (SMASS): L
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 383 days (1.05 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 29.31 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.26 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.81 AU
- Rotation Period: 5.02 hours
- Approx. Composition: magnesium silicate, iron silicate, and aluminum.
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 98943 (2001 CC21) 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 CC21 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.
