Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 22,373,023 km of Earth in 2069
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2012 QE50 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2012 QE50 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2012 QE50 orbits the sun every 833 days (2.28 years), coming as close as 0.97 AU and reaching as far as 2.50 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 QE50 is probably between 0.414 to 0.925 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 QE50's orbit is 0.05 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 QE50 has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 11, 2069 | 22,373,023 | 8.196 |
| Oct. 19, 2085 | 8,764,446 | 9.242 |
| Oct. 13, 2101 | 8,308,150 | 10.643 |
| Nov. 19, 2158 | 24,554,571 | 8.199 |
| Oct. 21, 2174 | 9,070,848 | 9.239 |
| Oct. 12, 2190 | 10,379,562 | 11.057 |
Images and Observations
2012 QE50's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 28, 2012. It was last officially observed on March 4, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 722 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 QE50:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.733 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.441
- Inclination: 11.9°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 193.92°
- Argument of Periapsis: 224.89°
- Mean Anomaly: 269.88°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.534 km
- Magnitude: 19.04
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 833 days (2.28 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 22.63 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.50 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.97 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2012 QE50 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 2012 QE50 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.
