Eros
433 · The first asteroid orbited and landed on.
Current distance from Earth
178,299,799km
463.8 lunar distances1.192 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Orbit class
Amor
around the Sun
Orbital period
1.76 yr
644 days
Diameter
17 km
one of the largest near-Earth asteroids known
Eccentricity
0.223
orbit shape
Inclination
10.8°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
1898
Size in perspective
1.9×Eros is 1.9× the size of Mount Everest.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 17.9
Observatory-class only
Right ascension
11h 27m
Declination
−10° 28′
From your location
tap to check ›
Eros is currently faint (magnitude 17.9) — it brightens around close approaches. Position is in equatorial coordinates (J2000); pair it with our sky conditions to plan a session.
Visited by NEAR Shoemaker
NEAR orbited Eros for a year and touched down on its surface in 2001.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eros going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. Eros is not on any impact-risk watchlist. Its trajectory is continuously refined as new observations are gathered, and predicted close approaches are calculated decades ahead. Its live position and orbit are shown above.
How big is Eros?
Eros is estimated at about 17 km across — one of the largest near-Earth asteroids known. Size estimates are derived from how bright the asteroid appears and refined by radar and thermal measurements when it passes close to Earth.
What kind of orbit does Eros have?
Eros is Amor (Earth-approaching) object. It orbits the Sun once every 1.76 years, on an elliptical path that reaches beyond Earth’s orbit and swings back toward the Sun. The interactive orbit diagram above shows where it is right now.
Has a spacecraft visited Eros?
Yes — NEAR Shoemaker. NEAR orbited Eros for a year and touched down on its surface in 2001. Explore more spacecraft and missions.
Can I see Eros through a telescope?
Most of the time Eros is far too faint to see, but during a close approach it can brighten enough for amateur telescopes, and the largest near-Earth asteroids occasionally reach binocular range. Check the close-approach date above, then plan your night with our sky and space-weather tools.
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