Near Earth Object Fact Sheet


[Toutatis]

Information on Selected Near Earth Objects

This list shows selected near Earth objects (NEO's) with close approaches to Earth in the past and predicted to the year 2100, as well as other NEO's of interest. The probability of any of these objects hitting the Earth on these approaches is essentially zero. There are no known NEO's on a collision course with the Earth. There is a possibility that an as yet undiscovered large NEO may hit the Earth, but the probability of this happening over the next 100 years is extremely small. For comparison with the closest approach data, the distance from the Earth to the Moon is about 0.0026 AU (1 AU = 149.6 million km).

                     Closest       Closest        H        Approx.       Orbital     Semimajor                   Orbital
   Asteroid         Approach       Approach      Abs.      Diameter      Period        Axis        Orbital      Inclination       Number
Number and Name       Date           (AU)        Mag.      (meters)       (yrs)        (AU)      Eccentricity     (deg)          and Name
---------------    -----------     --------      ----     ----------     -------     ---------   ------------   -----------    -------------   
      1937 UB      1937 Oct 30      0.0049       17.1        1250         2.29         1.738        0.649           6.4             1937 UB
      1989 UP      1938 Nov 18      0.0052       20.6         330         2.55         1.864        0.473           3.9             1989 UP  
      2004 UH1     1960 Oct 24      0.0011       28.2          10         0.93         0.954        0.397           3.7             2004 UH1
      1999 VP11    1965 Oct 21      0.0022       18.6         820         1.13         1.084        0.584          17.3             1999 VP11
      2000 LG6     1971 Jun  3      0.0041       29.0           7         0.88         0.916        0.112           2.8             2000 LG6
      2001 AV43    1973 Dec 24      0.0041       24.3          60         1.44         1.277        0.238           0.3             2001 AV43                 
27002 1998 DV9     1975 Jan 31      0.0045       18.1        1040         2.31         1.745        0.434           8.7       27002 1998 DV9                  
 4581 Asclepius    1989 Mar 22      0.0046       20.5         340         1.03         1.022        0.357           4.9        4581 Asclepius                 
      2003 SW130   1990 Sep 19      0.0015       29.1           7         0.83         0.885        0.304           3.6             2003 SW130
      1991 BA      1991 Jan 18      0.0011       28.7           8         3.06         2.105        0.667           2.1             1991 BA
      1991 VG      1991 Dec 05      0.0031       28.4           9         1.04         1.027        0.049           1.4             1991 VG
      1993 KA2     1993 May 20      0.0010       29.0           7         3.33         2.229        0.770           3.2             1993 KA2
      1994 ES1     1994 Mar 15      0.0011       28.6           9         1.68         1.411        0.588           0.9             1994 ES1
      1994 XM1     1994 Dec 09      0.00070      28.2          10         2.98         2.068        0.568           4.6             1994 XM1
      1995 FF      1995 Mar 27      0.0029       26.4          22         3.54         2.323        0.707           0.6             1995 FF
      1996 JA1     1996 May 19      0.0030       21.0         270         4.11         2.565        0.701          22.0             1996 JA1
      2000 SG344   1999 May 06      0.0038       24.6           *         0.97         0.980        0.067           0.1             2000 SG344     
 6489 Golevka      1999 Jun  2      0.0500       19.2         620         3.99         2.514        0.597           2.3        6489 Golevka
      2000 LG6     2000 Jun 02      0.0033       29.0           7         0.88         0.916        0.112           2.8             2000 LG6
 4486 Mithra       2000 Aug 14      0.0465       15.4        3000         3.26         2.200        0.663           3.0        4486 Mithra
      2001 BA16    2001 Jan 15      0.0020       25.8          30         0.91         0.940        0.137           5.8             2001 BA16
      1998 WT24    2001 Dec 16      0.0124       17.7        1250         0.61         0.718        0.418           7.4             1998 WT24
 4660 Nereus       2002 Jan 22      0.0290       18.3         950         1.82         1.489        0.360           1.4        4660 Nereus
      2002 CB26    2002 Feb 08      0.0032       26.5          20         2.73         1.953        0.723           6.8             2002 CB26  
      2002 EM7     2002 Mar 08      0.0031       24.4          60         0.89         0.921        0.363           1.5             2002 EM7 
      2002 MN      2002 Jun 14      0.00080      23.3         100         2.44         1.814        0.497           1.0             2002 MN
      2002 NY40    2002 Aug 18      0.0035       18.7         780         2.91         2.039        0.710           5.8             2002 NY40
      2002 XV90    2002 Dec 11      0.00078      25.2          40         1.99         1.580        0.377          10.0             2002 XV90
      1993 KA2     2003 May 20      0.0027       29.0           7         3.33         2.229        0.770           3.2             1993 KA2
      1994 PM      2003 Aug 16      0.0250       17.8        1200         1.80         1.479        0.753          18.0             1994 PM
      2003 SQ222   2003 Sep 27      0.00056      30.0           4         1.85         1.506        0.519           3.6             2003 SQ222
      2003 SW130   2003 Sep 19      0.0011       29.1           7         0.83         0.885        0.304           3.6             2003 SW130      
      2003 UM3     2003 Oct 12      0.0019       28.0          11         1.61         1.371        0.440           1.5             2003 UM3
      2003 XJ7     2003 Dec  6      0.0010       26.3          22         1.39         1.243        0.466          18.2             2003 XJ7
      2004 FH      2004 Mar 18      0.00033      26.4          20         0.74         0.818        0.289           0.0             2004 FH
      2004 FY15    2004 Mar 27      0.0016       26.1          24         2.52         1.854        0.479           3.5             2004 FY15
      2004 FU162   2004 Mar 31      0.00008      28.7           8         0.75         0.827        0.392           4.2             2004 FU162
      2004 HE      2004 Apr 18      0.0018       26.8          18         2.36         1.774        0.608           9.5             2004 HE 
      2004 OD4     2004 Jul 16      0.0011       26.9          17         2.91         2.037        0.515           4.4             2004 OD4 
 4179 Toutatis     2004 Sep 29      0.0104       15.3     4600 x 2400     1.10         2.511        0.634           0.5        4179 Toutatis
      2004 UH1     2004 Oct 24      0.0020       28.2          10         0.93         0.954        0.397           3.7             2004 UH1
      2004 YD5     2004 Dec 19      0.0023       29.3           6         3.43         2.273        0.783           3.6             2004 YD5
      2005 BS1     2005 Jan 13      0.0018       27.3          15         2.76         1.965        0.567           2.6             2005 BS1
      2005 FN      2005 Mar 18      0.00096      26.9          17         0.90         0.934        0.330           3.8             2005 FN
      2005 TK50    2005 Oct 10      0.00081      29.1           7         2.66         1.919        0.621           4.9             2005 TK50
      2005 UW5     2005 Oct 30      0.0013       27.5          14         1.65         1.398        0.395           2.9             2005 UW5
      2005 WN3     2005 Nov 26      0.00056      29.9           4         4.26         2.628        0.740           0.4             2005 WN3
      2005 XA8     2005 Dec  5      0.0015       25.6          33         1.70         1.425        0.440           4.8             2005 XA8
      2006 BF56    2006 Jan 29      0.0014       29.6           5         3.63         2.363        0.794           1.3             2006 BF56

      2004 XP14    2006 Jul 03      0.0029       19.3         595         1.09         1.057        0.157          32.9             2004 XP14
 4450 Pan          2008 Feb 19      0.0408       17.2        1570         3.00         1.442        0.587           5.5        4450 Pan                   
      2001 TB      2010 Jan 15      0.0050       24.8          47         2.25         1.716        0.525           4.0             2001 TB                                                                         
  433 Eros         2012 Jan 31      0.1790       11.2    33000 x 13000    1.76         1.458        0.223          10.8         433 Eros
 4660 Nereus       2021 Dec 11      0.0263       18.3         950         1.82         1.489        0.360           1.4        4660 Nereus
 7482 1994 PC1     2022 Jan 18      0.0132       16.8        1900         1.56         1.346        0.328          33.5        7482 1994 PC1
 7335 1989 JA      2022 May 27      0.0269       16.5        2000         2.35         1.770        0.484          15.2        7335 1989 JA                  
      1999 AN10    2027 Aug  7      0.0026       18.0        1100         1.76         1.459        0.562          39.9             1999 AN10
      2001 WN5     2028 Jun 26      0.0017       18.2         990         2.24         1.711        0.467           1.9             2001 WN5                                                                                                  
      2000 SG344   2029 Feb 16      0.0530       24.6           *         0.97         0.980        0.067           0.1             2000 SG344
99942 Apophis      2029 Apr 13      0.00024      19.2         620         0.89         0.922        0.191           3.3       99942 Apophis                                                                                
      1994 VH8     2031 Oct 29      0.0023       27.7          12         2.06         1.616        0.437           3.3             1994 VH8                                                                                                                             
      2005 TA      2034 Oct 04      0.0029       27.2          15         1.45         1.281        0.251           2.8             2005 TA                                                                                                       
99942 Apophis      2036 Apr 13      **           19.2         620         0.89         0.922        0.191           3.3       99942 Apophis                                                                                                           
 4769 Castalia     2046 Aug 26      0.0251       16.9     1800 x 800      1.10         1.063        0.483           8.9        4769 Castalia  
 1862 Apollo       2046 Nov 13      0.0353       16.3        1600         1.81         1.471        0.560           6.4        1862 Apollo  
 4581 Asclepius    2051 Mar 24      0.0122       20.5         340         1.03         1.022        0.357           4.9        4581 Asclepius
 1620 Geographos   2051 Aug 23      0.0479       15.6        2000         1.39         1.246        0.335          13.3        1620 Geographos 
      2004 VZ      2056 Nov  8      0.0041       24.5          54         0.91         0.940        0.244          16.2             2004 VZ
 4660 Nereus       2060 Feb 14      0.0080       18.3         940         1.82         1.489        0.360           1.4        4660 Nereus
      2000 QX69    2064 Aug 23      0.0025       24.2          63         1.02         1.011        0.271           4.6             2000 QX69                                                                                                                              
      2004 VZ      2066 Nov  8      0.0048       24.5          54         0.91        0.940        0.244          16.2             2004 VZ
      2000 SG344   2069 May  2      0.0013       24.6           *         0.97         0.980        0.067           0.1             2000 SG344
 2340 Hathor       2069 Oct 21      0.0066       20.3         370         0.78         0.844        0.450           5.8        2340 Hathor
 4179 Toutatis     2069 Nov  5      0.0199       15.3     4600 x 2400     3.98         2.511        0.634           0.5        4179 Toutatis
 4660 Nereus       2071 Feb  4      0.0157       18.3         940         1.82         1.489        0.360           1.4        4660 Nereus
      2005 UW5     2076 Oct 30      0.0031       27.5          14         1.65         1.398        0.395           2.9             2005 UW5
      2002 CU11    2080 Aug 31      0.0043       18.3         950         1.35         1.220        0.296          48.8             2002 CU11 
      1999 SF10    2083 Oct 11      0.0042       24.2          63         1.45         1.278        0.253           1.2             1999 SF10                                                                                                                 
 2340 Hathor       2086 Oct 21      0.0059       20.3         370         0.78         0.844        0.450           5.8        2340 Hathor
      2005 VL1     2087 Nov  3      0.0029       26.7          20         0.84         0.891        0.255           0.3             2005 VL1
 1566 Icarus       2090 Jun 14      0.0357       16.4        1400         1.12         1.078        0.827          22.9        1566 Icarus 
      2005 GY8     2092 Sep 23      0.0045       21.2         250         2.90         2.034        0.667           2.8             2005 GY8
      2005 YU55    2093 Nov  9      0.0027       22.0         170         1.22         1.141        0.429           0.5             2005 YU55                                                                                                               
 3200 Phaethon     2093 Dec 14      0.0194       14.6        5000         1.43         1.271        0.890          22.1        3200 Phaethon
      2005 AU3     2097 Jan  4      0.0036       26.0          27         1.39         1.247        0.474           3.8             2005 AU3
      2000 SG344   2098 May  6      0.0050       24.6           *         0.97         0.980        0.067           0.1             2000 SG344

 1036 Ganymed                                     9.3       32000         4.35         2.665        0.535          26.7        1036 Ganymed
 9969 Braille                                    15.7     1000 x 2200     3.58         2.341        0.434          29.0        9969 Braille

* 2000 SG344 may be an Apollo rocket body in heliocentric orbit
** The orbit of 99942 Apophis will be altered by its close approach to Earth in 2029 and has a chance, estimated at 1 in 6250, of hitting the Earth in 2036.

433 Eros - Near-Earth asteroid studied by the NEAR mission, which went into orbit in February 2000. (2nd largest NEO)
1036 Ganymed - Largest Near-Earth Object, 32 km in diameter.
1566 Icarus - Highly eccentric Earth-crossing orbit.
1620 Geographos - Scheduled to be visited by Clementine before a computer malfunction cut the mission short.
4179 Toutatis - Double object, probably in contact, one 2.5 km and one 1.5 km diameter (estimated), imaged by Arecibo and Goldstone radar.
4769 Castalia - Double-lobed near-Earth asteroid, each lobe about .75 km diameter. Imaged by Arecibo radar.
9969 Braille - Near-Earth asteroid flown by on 28 July 1999 by the New Millenium Deep Space 1 spacecraft.
1998 SF36 - Near-Earth asteroid target of 2005 orbit and 2007 sample return by the Muses-C spacecraft.


Large Terrestrial Impact Craters

                                                         ~Age      ~Diameter  
  Crater Name       Location      Latitude  Longitude    (My)        (km)   
---------------  -------------    --------  ---------   --------   ---------  
Vredefort        South Africa      27.0 S     27.5 E     2023        300
Sudbury          Canada            46.6 N     81.2 W     1850        250
Chicxulub        Mexico            21.3 N     89.5 W       65        170
Manicougan       Canada            51.4 N     68.7 W      214        100
Popigai          Russia            71.7 N    111.7 E       35        100
Chesapeake Bay   United States     37.3 N     76.0 W       36         90
Acraman          Australia         32.0 S    135.5 E      590         90
Puchezh-Katunki  Russia            57.1 N     43.6 E      175         80
Morokweng        South Africa      26.5 S     23.5 E      145         70
Kara             Russia            69.2 N     65.0 E       73         65
Beaverhead       United States     44.6 N    113.0 W      600         60
Tookoonooka      Australia         27.1 S    142.8 E      128         55
Charlevoix       Canada            47.5 N     70.3 W      357         54
Kara-Kul         Tajikstan         39.0 N     73.5 E        5         52
Siljan           Sweden            61.0 N     14.9 E      368         52

Crater information from The New Solar System, Beatty et al., Cambridge, 1999.

 List of potentially hazardous asteroids - Minor Planets Center
 Minor Planets Center - Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
 NEO Dynamic Site - NeoDys (University of Pisa)
 Research on Near Earth Objects - International Astronomical Union
 Near-Earth Object data - PDS Small Bodies Node
 Impact hazards - NASA Ames
 The Torino Scale - M.I.T.

 Asteroid Fact Sheet
 Asteroid Home Page
 Directory to other Planetary Fact Sheets


[NASA Logo]
Author/Curator:
Dr. David R. Williams, dave.williams@nasa.gov
NSSDC, Mail Code 690.1
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
+1-301-286-1258


NASA Official: Ed Grayzeck, edwin.j.grayzeck@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 13 September 2006, DRW