Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon (1.25 km diameter)
- Will pass within 21,595,575 km of Earth in 2053
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2012 LZ1 is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2012 LZ1 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2012 LZ1 orbits the sun every 1,490 days (4.08 years), coming as close as 1.05 AU and reaching as far as 4.07 AU from the sun. 2012 LZ1 is about 1.3 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
The rotation of 2012 LZ1 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 12.87 hours.
Close Approaches
2012 LZ1's orbit is 0.04 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.
2012 LZ1 has 3 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2053 | 21,595,575 | 17.646 |
| June 7, 2106 | 17,839,116 | 18.402 |
| June 30, 2110 | 22,554,840 | 17.160 |
Images and Observations
2012 LZ1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 10, 2012. It was last officially observed on Sept. 25, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 716 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 LZ1:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.558 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5898
- Inclination: 26.09°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 264.5°
- Argument of Periapsis: 14.3°
- Mean Anomaly: 267.35°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 1.25200 km
- Magnitude: 19.91
- Albedo: 0.012
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,490 days (4.08 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.68 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.07 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.05 AU
- Rotation Period: 12.87 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2012 LZ1 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 LZ1 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.
