Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 28,732,816 km of Earth in 2089
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2012 HG31 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2012 HG31 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2012 HG31 orbits the sun every 1,170 days (3.20 years), coming as close as 1.02 AU and reaching as far as 3.33 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 HG31 is probably between 0.441 to 0.986 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2012 HG31'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.
2012 HG31 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 11, 2089 | 28,732,816 | 12.550 |
| July 31, 2105 | 12,362,698 | 9.913 |
| Aug. 3, 2121 | 10,692,334 | 9.692 |
| July 19, 2137 | 22,017,296 | 11.397 |
Images and Observations
2012 HG31's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 15, 2012. It was last officially observed on April 9, 2015. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 525 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 2012 HG31:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.173 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5323
- Inclination: 10.24°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 148.28°
- Argument of Periapsis: 173.12°
- Mean Anomaly: 163.17°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.569 km
- Magnitude: 18.9
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,170 days (3.20 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.21 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.33 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.02 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2012 HG31 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 2012 HG31 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.
