Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 8,006,728 km of Earth in 2026
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2017 VR12 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2017 VR12 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2017 VR12 orbits the sun every 585 days (1.60 years), coming as close as 1.00 AU and reaching as far as 1.74 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2017 VR12 is probably between 0.132 to 0.590 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
The rotation of 2017 VR12 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 1.38 hours.
Close Approaches
2017 VR12's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2017 VR12 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 19, 2026 | 8,006,728 | 6.445 |
| Feb. 17, 2071 | 17,489,407 | 8.023 |
| March 10, 2079 | 1,753,597 | 6.249 |
| March 1, 2100 | 5,727,793 | 6.573 |
| Feb. 17, 2129 | 17,273,518 | 8.049 |
| April 6, 2137 | 20,692,726 | 7.963 |
| March 18, 2166 | 6,553,481 | 6.316 |
| Feb. 24, 2187 | 10,846,827 | 7.155 |
Images and Observations
2017 VR12's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 23, 2010. It was last officially observed on June 9, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 419 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2017 VR12 can be reached with a journey of 386 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 11.759 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 5 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2017 VR12.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2017 VR12:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.369 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2694
- Inclination: 9.22°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 347.26°
- Argument of Periapsis: 180.8°
- Mean Anomaly: 159.3°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.361 km
- Magnitude: 20.6
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 585 days (1.60 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 25.46 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.74 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.00 AU
- Rotation Period: 1.38 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2017 VR12 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 2017 VR12 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.
