2018 TL6

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Centaur-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
• Not a Near Earth Object
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

2018 TL6 is a very small asteroid with an orbit between Jupiter and Neptune. NASA JPL has not classified 2018 TL6 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2018 TL6 orbits the sun every 8,490 days (23.24 years), coming as close as 1.72 AU and reaching as far as 14.57 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2018 TL6 is probably between 0.278 to 0.622 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.

No Close Approaches

2018 TL6's orbit is 0.74 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a very wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2018 TL6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 5, 2018. It was last officially observed on Oct. 15, 2018. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 29 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 TL6:

• 144908 (2004 YH32)
• 2017 FM99
• P/2017 G2 (PANSTARRS)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 2018 TL6 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 2018 TL6 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.