Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 29,332,329 km of Earth in 2024
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2014 UQ56 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2014 UQ56 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2014 UQ56 orbits the sun every 629 days (1.72 years), coming as close as 0.97 AU and reaching as far as 1.90 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2014 UQ56 is probably between 0.384 to 0.859 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2014 UQ56'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.
2014 UQ56 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| April 25, 2024 | 29,332,329 | 23.400 |
| May 14, 2036 | 25,353,020 | 22.838 |
| April 29, 2055 | 19,159,795 | 22.923 |
| May 2, 2086 | 11,745,668 | 22.672 |
| May 3, 2117 | 11,102,238 | 22.660 |
| April 30, 2148 | 18,433,903 | 22.915 |
| May 16, 2160 | 27,466,872 | 22.893 |
| May 12, 2191 | 14,054,156 | 22.539 |
Images and Observations
2014 UQ56's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 22, 2014. It was last officially observed on Nov. 27, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 109 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 2014 UQ56:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.437 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3241
- Inclination: 39.91°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 45.41°
- Argument of Periapsis: 182.47°
- Mean Anomaly: 230.54°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.496 km
- Magnitude: 19.2
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 629 days (1.72 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.85 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.90 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.97 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2014 UQ56 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 2014 UQ56 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.
