Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to Mount Everest (2.91 km diameter)
- Will pass within 24,410,832 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
242450 (2004 QY2) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 QY2 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2004 QY2 orbits the sun every 412 days (1.13 years), coming as close as 0.57 AU and reaching as far as 1.60 AU from the sun. 2004 QY2 is about 2.9 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.
Close Approaches
2004 QY2's orbit is 0.05 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.
2004 QY2 has 13 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 8, 2020 | 24,410,832 | 26.679 |
| July 15, 2029 | 7,050,158 | 23.285 |
| July 22, 2038 | 25,711,674 | 20.532 |
| July 10, 2064 | 17,176,684 | 25.540 |
| July 17, 2073 | 8,449,559 | 22.751 |
| July 22, 2082 | 26,770,588 | 20.431 |
| July 8, 2108 | 28,238,006 | 27.289 |
| July 13, 2117 | 13,316,363 | 24.902 |
| July 17, 2126 | 7,270,549 | 23.099 |
| July 21, 2135 | 17,437,517 | 21.437 |
| July 12, 2179 | 16,997,080 | 25.496 |
| July 16, 2188 | 6,902,356 | 23.463 |
| July 20, 2197 | 15,701,572 | 21.645 |
Images and Observations
2004 QY2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 20, 2004. It was last officially observed on Aug. 5, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 3,318 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 2004 QY2:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.084 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4772
- Inclination: 37.03°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 295.28°
- Argument of Periapsis: 104.97°
- Mean Anomaly: 245.37°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 2.91400 km
- Magnitude: 14.69
- Albedo: 0.274
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 412 days (1.13 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 28.62 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.60 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.57 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 242450 (2004 QY2) 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 2004 QY2 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.
