Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
- Will pass within 23,775,111 km of Earth in 2142
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
197588 (2004 HE12) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 HE12 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2004 HE12 orbits the sun every 916 days (2.51 years), coming as close as 0.99 AU and reaching as far as 2.70 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 HE12 is probably between 0.961 to 2.148 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
Close Approaches
2004 HE12's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2004 HE12 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2142 | 23,775,111 | 24.594 |
| Feb. 23, 2147 | 17,372,250 | 24.564 |
| Feb. 24, 2152 | 13,151,647 | 24.588 |
| Feb. 24, 2157 | 10,881,862 | 24.584 |
| Feb. 25, 2162 | 10,756,211 | 24.572 |
| Feb. 24, 2167 | 13,737,554 | 24.583 |
| Feb. 23, 2172 | 18,932,561 | 24.590 |
| Feb. 20, 2177 | 24,741,585 | 24.643 |
Images and Observations
2004 HE12's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 21, 2000. It was last officially observed on Aug. 3, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 123 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
This asteroid is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2004 HE12:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.845 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4659
- Inclination: 42.71°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 338.04°
- Argument of Periapsis: 162.21°
- Mean Anomaly: 272.21°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.240 km
- Magnitude: 17.21
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 916 days (2.51 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.91 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.70 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.99 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 197588 (2004 HE12) is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.
Size Rendering
The above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2004 HE12 to create an approximate landscape rendering with Mount Everest in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
