Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building (0.41 km diameter)
- Will pass within 12,324,394 km of Earth in 2027
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
391211 (2006 HZ51) is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2006 HZ51 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2006 HZ51 orbits the sun every 954 days (2.61 years), coming as close as 1.04 AU and reaching as far as 2.75 AU from the sun. 2006 HZ51 is about 0.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
Close Approaches
2006 HZ51's orbit is 0.03 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.
2006 HZ51 has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2027 | 12,324,394 | 8.981 |
| July 14, 2061 | 23,636,437 | 10.021 |
| May 29, 2082 | 28,047,870 | 12.559 |
| June 11, 2116 | 9,931,511 | 9.901 |
| June 3, 2150 | 21,450,028 | 11.619 |
| July 6, 2197 | 16,469,731 | 9.154 |
Images and Observations
2006 HZ51's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 14, 2001. It was last officially observed on Nov. 18, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 200 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 2006 HZ51:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.897 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4502
- Inclination: 12.41°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 84.27°
- Argument of Periapsis: 193.36°
- Mean Anomaly: 196.28°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: 0.41200 km
- Magnitude: 18.47
- Albedo: 0.415
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 954 days (2.61 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.63 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.75 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.04 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 391211 (2006 HZ51) 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 2006 HZ51 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.
