Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 8,607,637 km of Earth in 2032
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
416591 (2004 LC2) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 LC2 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2004 LC2 orbits the sun every 930 days (2.55 years), coming as close as 0.49 AU and reaching as far as 3.24 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 LC2 is probably between 0.493 to 1.102 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 2004 LC2 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 4.68 hours.
Close Approaches
2004 LC2'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.
2004 LC2 has 10 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 26, 2032 | 8,607,637 | 22.466 |
| Jan. 10, 2048 | 16,932,269 | 22.058 |
| July 2, 2060 | 24,330,618 | 19.302 |
| Jan. 13, 2076 | 14,945,556 | 23.481 |
| Jan. 19, 2104 | 19,170,288 | 26.129 |
| June 27, 2139 | 8,032,882 | 22.914 |
| Jan. 19, 2155 | 20,033,198 | 26.205 |
| June 17, 2162 | 26,805,124 | 28.856 |
| Jan. 5, 2178 | 28,804,243 | 19.288 |
| July 6, 2190 | 28,979,464 | 18.461 |
Images and Observations
2004 LC2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 11, 2004. It was last officially observed on March 24, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 761 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 LC2:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.865 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.7348
- Inclination: 10.98°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 84.26°
- Argument of Periapsis: 290.71°
- Mean Anomaly: 179.1°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.636 km
- Magnitude: 18.66
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 930 days (2.55 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 21.82 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.24 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.49 AU
- Rotation Period: 4.68 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 416591 (2004 LC2) 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 LC2 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.
