Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 18,692,995 km of Earth in 2033
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2012 XY6 is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2012 XY6 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2012 XY6 orbits the sun every 1,040 days (2.85 years), coming as close as 1.02 AU and reaching as far as 2.99 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 XY6 is probably between 0.395 to 0.883 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 XY6'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.
2012 XY6 has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2033 | 18,692,995 | 9.338 |
| March 12, 2070 | 5,442,559 | 7.562 |
| April 3, 2127 | 22,718,510 | 10.250 |
| March 20, 2147 | 8,246,121 | 7.904 |
| March 12, 2167 | 5,145,579 | 7.474 |
Images and Observations
2012 XY6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 3, 2012. It was last officially observed on June 27, 2019. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 217 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 XY6:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.009 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4905
- Inclination: 7.78°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 348.36°
- Argument of Periapsis: 173.3°
- Mean Anomaly: 245.64°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.510 km
- Magnitude: 19.14
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,040 days (2.85 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.02 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.99 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.02 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2012 XY6 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 XY6 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.
