Phaethon
3200 · The rock comet behind the Geminid meteors.
Current distance from Earth
234,420,106km
609.8 lunar distances1.567 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Orbit class
Apollo
around the Sun
Orbital period
1.43 yr
523 days
Diameter
5.1 km
comparable to a large city district
Eccentricity
0.890
orbit shape
Inclination
22.3°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
1983
Size in perspective
58%Phaethon is about 58% the size of Mount Everest.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 23.4
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
8h 10m
Declination
+18° 41′
From your location
tap to check ›
Phaethon is currently faint (magnitude 23.4) — it brightens around close approaches. Position is in equatorial coordinates (J2000); pair it with our sky conditions to plan a session.
Visited by DESTINY+
A planned JAXA flyby will study why this asteroid sheds dust like a comet.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phaethon going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. Phaethon is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, which means its orbit brings it relatively close to Earth — but classification is about proximity, not an impending collision. 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 Phaethon?
Phaethon is estimated at about 5.1 km across — comparable to a large city district. 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 Phaethon have?
Phaethon is Apollo (Earth-crossing) object. It orbits the Sun once every 1.43 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 Phaethon?
Yes — DESTINY+. A planned JAXA flyby will study why this asteroid sheds dust like a comet. Explore more spacecraft and missions.
Can I see Phaethon through a telescope?
Most of the time Phaethon 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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