420210 (2011 HF)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
• Will pass within 20,419,059 km of Earth in 2030
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
• See orbit simulation

Overview

420210 (2011 HF) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 HF as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2011 HF orbits the sun every 531 days (1.45 years), coming as close as 0.98 AU and reaching as far as 1.59 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 HF is probably between 0.141 to 0.632 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.

Close Approaches

2011 HF'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.

2011 HF has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:

Images and Observations

2011 HF's orbit is determined by observations dating back to April 22, 2011. It was last officially observed on March 7, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 207 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration

2011 HF can be reached with a journey of 362 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 11.943 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 1 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.

See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2011 HF.

Similar Objects

These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2011 HF:

• 2102 Tantalus (1975 YA)
• 52381 (1993 HA)
• 52387 Huitzilopochtli (1993 OM7)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 420210 (2011 HF) 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 2011 HF 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.