2012 HJ1

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2012 HJ1 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2012 HJ1 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2012 HJ1 orbits the sun every 1,040 days (2.85 years), coming as close as 0.79 AU and reaching as far as 3.22 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 HJ1 is probably between 0.683 to 1.528 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.

No Close Approaches

2012 HJ1's orbit is 0.03 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.

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

Images and Observations

2012 HJ1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 16, 2012. It was last officially observed on May 13, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 363 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 HJ1:

• 4276 Clifford (1981 XA)
• 4954 Eric (1990 SQ)
• 12008 Kandrup (1996 TY9)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2012 HJ1 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 HJ1 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.