2008 HJ

Very small Apollo-class Asteroid

Near-Earth
Space Reference » Apollo-class Asteroids » 2008 HJ

Key Facts

Overview

2008 HJ is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2008 HJ as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.

2008 HJ orbits the sun every 762 days (2.09 years), coming as close as 0.97 AU and reaching as far as 2.30 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2008 HJ is probably between 0.018 to 0.041 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.

The rotation of 2008 HJ has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 0.01 hours.

Close Approaches

2008 HJ's orbit is 0.00 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

NASA Sentry has assessed impact risk for 32 very close approach scenarios. Here are the top scenarios ordered by probability of impact:

Date Probability of Impact (%) Impact Energy (Mt)
May 3, 2104 0.00962 0.4
May 2, 2081 0.00589 0.4004
May 3, 2106 0.00466 0.4001
May 4, 2102 0.00429 0.4013
May 4, 2102 0.00030 0.4008
May 3, 2104 0.00022 0.3994
May 3, 2102 0.00013 0.4014
May 2, 2077 0.00008 0.4014
May 3, 2106 0.00008 0.4
May 3, 2104 0.00006 0.4007
May 3, 2100 0.00004 0.4009
May 3, 2108 0.00003 0.4016
May 3, 2110 0.00003 0.4003
May 3, 2104 0.00003 0.4005
May 3, 2119 0.00002 0.4022
May 3, 2121 0.00002 0.3999
May 2, 2098 0.00002 0.3999
May 3, 2112 0.00001 0.4002
May 4, 2117 0.00001 0.3997
May 2, 2083 0.00001 0.4011
May 3, 2100 0.00001 0.4017
May 3, 2119 0.00001 0.4023
May 3, 2109 0.00000 0.3998
May 3, 2108 0.00000 0.4022
May 3, 2119 0.00000 0.4015
May 3, 2115 0.00000 0.4008
May 3, 2104 0.00000 0.3994
May 2, 2098 0.00000 0.3997
May 4, 2109 0.00000 0.4006
May 3, 2122 0.00000 0.4009
May 1, 2096 0.00000 0.402
May 2, 2093 0.00000 0.3983

Images and Observations

2008 HJ's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 24, 2008. It was last officially observed on April 30, 2008. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 79 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 2008 HJ:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 1.633 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.4066
  • Inclination: 0.92°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 47.48°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 204.15°
  • Mean Anomaly: 121.14°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: ~0.024 km
  • Magnitude: 25.8

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 762 days (2.09 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 23.31 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 2.30 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 0.97 AU
  • Rotation Period: 0.01 hours

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 2008 HJ 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.