Key Facts
- Categorized as a Aten-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a school bus or smaller
- Will pass within 4,285,639 km of Earth in 2024
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2012 SX49 is a very small asteroid whose orbit could bring it in close proximity to Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2012 SX49 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.
2012 SX49 orbits the sun every 338 days (0.93 years), coming as close as 0.84 AU and reaching as far as 1.06 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 SX49 is probably between 0.010 to 0.045 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
Close Approaches
2012 SX49's orbit is 0.02 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 SX49 has 15 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 29, 2024 | 4,285,639 | 4.284 |
| Dec. 22, 2025 | 29,135,981 | 9.020 |
| March 10, 2038 | 21,219,309 | 4.446 |
| Aug. 27, 2062 | 16,457,833 | 6.762 |
| Dec. 26, 2063 | 16,331,823 | 6.096 |
| Sept. 9, 2075 | 5,429,885 | 3.246 |
| March 14, 2076 | 22,080,289 | 4.623 |
| Aug. 27, 2087 | 14,444,221 | 6.345 |
| Dec. 22, 2088 | 21,313,675 | 7.234 |
| May 18, 2100 | 25,252,879 | 4.526 |
| Dec. 27, 2100 | 10,420,686 | 4.023 |
| May 19, 2112 | 25,399,675 | 4.527 |
| Dec. 28, 2112 | 10,596,209 | 4.152 |
| Sept. 1, 2123 | 18,116,941 | 7.088 |
| Dec. 24, 2124 | 21,763,100 | 7.342 |
Images and Observations
2012 SX49's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 22, 2012. It was last officially observed on Sept. 24, 2012. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 35 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2012 SX49 can be reached with a journey of 362 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 6.145 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 552,359 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2012 SX49.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2012 SX49:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 0.9487 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.1175
- Inclination: 3.9°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 353.5°
- Argument of Periapsis: 210.84°
- Mean Anomaly: 105.19°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.028 km
- Magnitude: 26.2
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 338 days (0.93 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 30.54 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.06 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.84 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2012 SX49 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 SX49 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.
