Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon
- Will pass within 17,015,212 km of Earth in 2026
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
374038 (2004 HW) is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 HW as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2004 HW orbits the sun every 1,610 days (4.41 years), coming as close as 0.98 AU and reaching as far as 4.40 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 HW is probably between 0.965 to 2.158 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Pentagon.
The rotation of 2004 HW has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.52 hours.
Close Approaches
2004 HW'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.
2004 HW has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 17,015,212 | 13.694 |
| June 28, 2061 | 9,497,242 | 9.881 |
| July 4, 2096 | 6,556,386 | 9.334 |
| Aug. 23, 2118 | 18,506,768 | 14.320 |
| Aug. 25, 2149 | 20,323,263 | 14.645 |
| July 30, 2171 | 7,684,738 | 10.175 |
Images and Observations
2004 HW's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 18, 2004. It was last officially observed on Nov. 28, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 344 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 HW:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.692 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6347
- Inclination: 0.83°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 219.83°
- Argument of Periapsis: 62.84°
- Mean Anomaly: 134.0°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~1.246 km
- Magnitude: 17.2
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,610 days (4.41 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.19 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 4.40 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.98 AU
- Rotation Period: 2.52 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 374038 (2004 HW) 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 HW 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.
