Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a school bus or smaller
- Will pass within 2,071,068 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2020 XZ4 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2020 XZ4 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.
2020 XZ4 orbits the sun every 466 days (1.28 years), coming as close as 0.85 AU and reaching as far as 1.50 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2020 XZ4 is probably between 0.018 to 0.082 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
Close Approaches
2020 XZ4's orbit is 0.01 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.
2020 XZ4 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 29, 2020 | 2,071,068 | 8.718 |
| May 27, 2026 | 14,380,899 | 6.954 |
| June 1, 2059 | 14,683,559 | 9.623 |
| Dec. 28, 2067 | 5,858,908 | 9.477 |
| May 26, 2073 | 19,495,341 | 5.616 |
| June 2, 2092 | 18,590,305 | 10.767 |
| June 1, 2125 | 12,585,871 | 8.757 |
| May 27, 2172 | 21,935,788 | 5.166 |
Images and Observations
2020 XZ4's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 11, 2020. It was last officially observed on Dec. 27, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 78 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2020 XZ4 can be reached with a journey of 362 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 9.532 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 2,787 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2020 XZ4.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2020 XZ4:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2459200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.176 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2776
- Inclination: 7.58°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 282.57°
- Argument of Periapsis: 242.92°
- Mean Anomaly: 310.09°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.050 km
- Magnitude: 24.89
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 466 days (1.28 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 27.45 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.50 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.85 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2020 XZ4 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 2020 XZ4 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.
