How close does Cruithne get to the Earth?
The closest approach is only to within 0.1 astronomical units (about 15 million kilometers (10 million miles) or 40 times the Earth-Moon distance), and it only gets this close every few hundred years. Over the next year, Cruithne won’t get any closer than 0.3 astronomical units, and at this point it will be almost directly beneath the Earth’s South Pole (this is possible due to the asteroid’s inclined orbit). This asteroid is also moving away from the Earth along its horseshoe, so its minimum yearly approach distance is slowing increasing. In June and July, this asteroid is about 1.5 astronomical units (over 500 times the Earth-Moon distance) from us. • Is there any danger that Cruithne will hit the Earth? No. The relationship between the Earth and Cruithne, particularly the asteroid’s high (20 degrees) inclination, helps avoid a collision. Though Cruithne is unlikely to remain stable in its current orbit indefinitely, the possibility of a collision over at least the next ten thousand
