2011 QB56

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Outer Main-belt Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2011 QB56 is a mid-sized asteroid that orbits between Mars and Jupiter in the outer reaches of the main asteroid belt. NASA JPL has not classified 2011 QB56 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2011 QB56 orbits the sun every 2,110 days (5.78 years), coming as close as 2.90 AU and reaching as far as 3.53 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 QB56 is probably between 1.139 to 2.547 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.

No Close Approaches

2011 QB56's orbit is 1.90 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is an extremely 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

2011 QB56's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 30, 2006. It was last officially observed on April 6, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 74 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 2011 QB56:

• 300 Geraldina (A890 TB)
• 325 Heidelberga (A892 EA)
• 381 Myrrha (A894 AC)

References

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

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2011 QB56 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 2011 QB56 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.