326290 Akhenaten (1998 HE3) — Potentially Hazardous Asteroid Profile and Close Approach Data Report - Verifiable PHA Asteroid News by Astrophyzix
Author: Astrophyzix Digital Observatory — Evidence‑First Asteroid Report
326290 Akhenaten (1998 HE3) is a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) belonging to the Aten-class of near‑Earth objects. Its orbit brings it extremely close to Earth’s orbital path, with a Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) of just 0.00350906 au — approximately 525,000 km, slightly farther than the distance to the Moon. Despite this close geometry, current NASA/JPL orbital solutions show no impact risk for the foreseeable future.
1. Overview
Asteroid 326290 Akhenaten was discovered on 21 April 1998 by R. A. Tucker at the Goodricke‑Pigott Observatory. It is named after the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten of the 18th Dynasty, known for attempting to shift Egypt toward monotheistic worship of the Aten — the visible surface of the Sun.
Akhenaten is classified as:
- Aten asteroid — semi-major axis < 1 au
- NEO — Near‑Earth Object
- PHA — Potentially Hazardous Asteroid
- SPK-ID: 20326290
The asteroid has been observed for over 33 years, giving it a Condition Code 0 — the highest possible confidence in its orbit.
Upcoming Close Approach of 326290 Akhenaten (1998 HE3)
Asteroid 326290 Akhenaten will make its next notable close approach to Earth on 2026‑May‑10. According to the latest JPL orbit solution (JPL 84), the asteroid will pass Earth at a nominal distance of 0.07355 au, which is approximately:
- 11 million km
- ~28.6 × the Earth–Moon distance
This encounter is classified as a safe, non‑hazardous flyby. The orbit is extremely well constrained, with a Condition Code of 0, meaning the uncertainty in the asteroid’s predicted position is effectively negligible.
Approach Velocity
During the 2026 flyby, Akhenaten will be traveling at a relative velocity of:
- 10.81 km/s (relative to Earth)
This is typical for Aten‑class NEOs, which often have Earth‑crossing orbits and moderate encounter speeds.
Why This Approach Matters
Although the 2026 encounter poses no impact risk, it is scientifically valuable for several reasons:
- Refinement of orbital parameters — even small changes in timing or position help improve long‑term predictions.
- Monitoring of nongravitational forces — Akhenaten has a measured Yarkovsky acceleration (A2 term), and close approaches help validate this model.
- Long‑term hazard assessment — each well‑observed flyby reduces uncertainty in future trajectories.
Because Akhenaten has been observed for over 33 years and includes a radar delay measurement, its orbit is already one of the most precise among PHAs. The 2026 flyby will further strengthen that confidence.
Comparison to Past Approaches
The 2026 encounter is not the closest in Akhenaten’s observational history. Its closest recorded approach occurred on:
- 2012‑May‑10: 0.03192 au (~4.78 million km)
Even during that closer pass, the asteroid posed no threat — and its orbit has only become more precisely known since then.
Impact Risk Assessment
All current NASA/JPL solutions show no impact risk from Akhenaten for the foreseeable future. Its orbit is stable, predictable, and continuously monitored by the planetary defense community.
Bottom line: The 2026 close approach of 326290 Akhenaten is scientifically useful but entirely safe. There is no hazard to Earth, and the asteroid’s trajectory remains one of the most precisely known among Aten‑class PHAs.
2. Orbital Characteristics
The latest JPL solution (JPL 84, epoch 2025‑Nov‑21) provides the following high‑precision orbital elements:
- Semi-major axis (a): 0.8790667578 au
- Eccentricity (e): 0.4401385152
- Perihelion (q): 0.4921556203 au
- Aphelion (Q): 1.2659778954 au
- Inclination (i): 3.378°
- Orbital period: 301.04 days (~0.824 years)
- Mean motion: 1.195835°/day
Akhenaten’s orbit crosses Earth’s orbital path, which is why it is classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid. However, its orbit is extremely well constrained thanks to:
- 438 total observations
- 1 radar delay measurement
- Data arc spanning 12,074 days (33.06 years)
- Condition Code: 0
This long observational arc dramatically reduces uncertainty, allowing NASA to confidently rule out any near‑term impact scenarios.
3. Earth MOID and Hazard Assessment
Akhenaten’s Earth MOID is 0.00350906 au, or roughly:
- 525,000 km
- ~1.37 × the Earth–Moon distance
This is close enough to qualify as a PHA, but not close enough to indicate danger. A PHA classification simply means:
- The asteroid is large enough to cause regional damage (H ≤ 22)
- Its orbit passes within 0.05 au of Earth’s orbit
It does not mean an impact is expected.
4. Physical Characteristics
Akhenaten’s physical properties are not fully constrained, but the absolute magnitude provides a size estimate:
- Absolute magnitude (H): 21.83
Assuming a typical albedo for stony NEOs (0.15–0.30), the estimated diameter is:
- ~120–190 metres
This places Akhenaten in the size range capable of causing significant regional damage if an impact were ever to occur — one of the reasons it is monitored closely.
5. Nongravitational Effects
The JPL solution includes a measured A2 nongravitational parameter:
- A2 = –2.8253 × 10⁻¹⁴ au/day²
This indicates a detectable, though extremely small, Yarkovsky effect — the thermal recoil force caused by uneven heating and cooling of the asteroid’s surface.
The presence of a measured A2 term improves long‑term orbital predictions.
6. Close Approach History
Akhenaten has made several close approaches to Earth and Venus. Notable encounters:
- 2012‑May‑10: 0.03192 au from Earth
- 2025‑Feb‑03: 0.12347 au from Earth
- 2026‑May‑10: 0.07355 au from Earth
- 2039‑Feb‑06: 0.19973 au from Earth
All future approaches listed by JPL show no impact risk.
7. Radar Observations
Akhenaten has one recorded radar delay measurement from 2012, which significantly improved its orbital accuracy. Radar data is extremely valuable because it provides precise range measurements independent of optical uncertainties.
8. Discovery and Naming
The asteroid was discovered on 21 April 1998 by R. A. Tucker. It was named after the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled for 17 years and attempted to shift Egypt toward monotheistic worship of the Aten — the visible surface of the Sun.
Naming citations are managed by the IAU Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature.
9. Summary
326290 Akhenaten (1998 HE3) is a well‑tracked, high‑confidence Aten‑class PHA with a long observational arc and a very small Earth MOID. Despite its classification, there is no current impact threat. Its orbit is stable, well understood, and continuously monitored by NASA/JPL.
Sources & Official Data Links
All orbital, physical, and close‑approach data for 326290 Akhenaten (1998 HE3) are derived from NASA/JPL’s authoritative databases and the IAU’s official naming records.
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NASA JPL Small‑Body Database — 326290 Akhenaten
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=326290 -
NASA CNEOS — Close Approach Data
https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/ -
NASA CNEOS — NEO Earth Close Approach Table (Merged)
https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/neo_ca_table.html -
JPL Horizons / Ephemeris System
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons -
IAU Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN)
https://www.wgsbn-iau.org/ -
Minor Planet Center — Discovery Circumstances
https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=326290
Astrophyzix aligns all NEO/PHA reporting with NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) standards and updates asteroid profiles as new JPL solutions are released. IMAGE CREDIT: NASA JPL SBDB