Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 23,299,566 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2018 LM4 is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2018 LM4 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.
2018 LM4 orbits the sun every 375 days (1.03 years), coming as close as 0.81 AU and reaching as far as 1.22 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2018 LM4 is probably between 0.477 to 1.067 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.
The rotation of 2018 LM4 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 40.60 hours.
Close Approaches
2018 LM4's orbit is 0.08 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.
2018 LM4 has 23 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 4, 2020 | 23,299,566 | 18.136 |
| Aug. 6, 2021 | 12,243,144 | 16.393 |
| Aug. 6, 2022 | 28,758,329 | 15.750 |
| Jan. 31, 2025 | 16,203,303 | 18.246 |
| Feb. 11, 2026 | 24,695,884 | 19.842 |
| Aug. 4, 2057 | 22,619,815 | 18.060 |
| Aug. 6, 2058 | 12,341,142 | 16.361 |
| Aug. 6, 2059 | 28,820,455 | 15.754 |
| Jan. 31, 2062 | 16,399,993 | 18.224 |
| Feb. 11, 2063 | 24,135,267 | 19.781 |
| Aug. 5, 2094 | 18,923,036 | 17.651 |
| Aug. 7, 2095 | 14,591,842 | 16.143 |
| Jan. 22, 2098 | 29,342,333 | 17.918 |
| Feb. 3, 2099 | 15,173,845 | 18.503 |
| Feb. 14, 2100 | 29,656,753 | 20.404 |
| Aug. 7, 2131 | 15,158,044 | 17.207 |
| Aug. 7, 2132 | 17,747,328 | 15.979 |
| Jan. 26, 2135 | 25,808,683 | 17.920 |
| Feb. 6, 2136 | 15,710,874 | 18.713 |
| Aug. 6, 2168 | 13,601,742 | 16.991 |
| Aug. 7, 2169 | 20,354,256 | 15.879 |
| Jan. 28, 2172 | 22,413,817 | 17.968 |
| Feb. 7, 2173 | 17,575,020 | 19.012 |
Images and Observations
2018 LM4's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 11, 2018. It was last officially observed on Aug. 7, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,124 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 2018 LM4:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.019 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2012
- Inclination: 32.24°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 131.24°
- Argument of Periapsis: 303.15°
- Mean Anomaly: 275.91°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.616 km
- Magnitude: 18.73
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 375 days (1.03 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 29.56 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.22 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.81 AU
- Rotation Period: 40.60 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2018 LM4 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 above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2018 LM4 to create an approximate landscape rendering with Mount Everest in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
