Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 13,962,632 km of Earth in 2026
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
276033 (2002 AJ129) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2002 AJ129 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2002 AJ129 orbits the sun every 586 days (1.60 years), coming as close as 0.12 AU and reaching as far as 2.62 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 AJ129 is probably between 0.462 to 1.033 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 2002 AJ129 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 3.93 hours.
Close Approaches
2002 AJ129'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.
2002 AJ129 has 10 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 9, 2026 | 13,962,632 | 37.703 |
| Feb. 1, 2079 | 22,475,442 | 30.607 |
| Feb. 5, 2087 | 3,753,942 | 34.160 |
| Feb. 9, 2095 | 10,965,097 | 37.122 |
| Feb. 15, 2103 | 27,248,499 | 40.581 |
| Feb. 1, 2156 | 29,008,812 | 29.465 |
| Feb. 5, 2164 | 14,053,071 | 32.168 |
| Feb. 8, 2172 | 685,153 | 34.877 |
| Feb. 11, 2180 | 9,963,166 | 36.896 |
| Feb. 14, 2188 | 22,698,462 | 39.596 |
Images and Observations
2002 AJ129's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 15, 2002. It was last officially observed on March 16, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 504 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 2002 AJ129:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.37 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.915
- Inclination: 15.45°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 138.03°
- Argument of Periapsis: 211.03°
- Mean Anomaly: 199.72°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.596 km
- Magnitude: 18.8
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 586 days (1.60 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 25.43 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.62 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.12 AU
- Rotation Period: 3.93 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 276033 (2002 AJ129) 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 2002 AJ129 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.
