Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 4,269,423 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2004 UE is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 UE as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2004 UE orbits the sun every 1,560 days (4.27 years), coming as close as 0.93 AU and reaching as far as 4.33 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 UE is probably between 0.142 to 0.318 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2004 UE has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 7.30 hours.
Close Approaches
2004 UE's orbit is 0.02 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
2004 UE has 3 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 13, 2021 | 4,269,423 | 13.236 |
| Oct. 28, 2051 | 25,717,996 | 17.568 |
| Dec. 19, 2115 | 27,700,215 | 11.987 |
Images and Observations
2004 UE's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 12, 2004. It was last officially observed on Nov. 13, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 515 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 UE:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.634 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6457
- Inclination: 14.57°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 225.44°
- Argument of Periapsis: 217.64°
- Mean Anomaly: 148.45°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.183 km
- Magnitude: 21.36
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,560 days (4.27 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.37 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.33 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.93 AU
- Rotation Period: 7.30 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2004 UE 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 below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2004 UE to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
