Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 10,964,384 km of Earth in 2051
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
344076 (1998 HJ3) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1998 HJ3 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1998 HJ3 orbits the sun every 1,020 days (2.79 years), coming as close as 0.50 AU and reaching as far as 3.47 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1998 HJ3 is probably between 0.431 to 0.964 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.
Close Approaches
1998 HJ3'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.
1998 HJ3 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 15, 2051 | 10,964,384 | 22.068 |
| Nov. 11, 2065 | 18,766,921 | 20.489 |
| Nov. 7, 2093 | 27,869,302 | 18.565 |
| Nov. 11, 2107 | 23,754,752 | 19.426 |
Images and Observations
1998 HJ3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 19, 1998. It was last officially observed on April 23, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 148 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 1998 HJ3:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.986 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7462
- Inclination: 6.56°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 223.56°
- Argument of Periapsis: 94.21°
- Mean Anomaly: 356.59°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.557 km
- Magnitude: 18.95
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,020 days (2.79 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.18 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.47 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.50 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 344076 (1998 HJ3) 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 1998 HJ3 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.
