Key Facts
- Categorized as a Aten-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 21,202,855 km of Earth in 2026
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
427684 (2004 DH2) is a very small asteroid whose orbit could bring it in close proximity to Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 DH2 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2004 DH2 orbits the sun every 335 days (0.92 years), coming as close as 0.57 AU and reaching as far as 1.32 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 DH2 is probably between 0.233 to 0.520 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2004 DH2 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 8.96 hours.
Close Approaches
2004 DH2's orbit is 0.12 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 DH2 has 12 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 15, 2026 | 21,202,855 | 14.424 |
| Feb. 13, 2037 | 18,751,698 | 15.438 |
| Feb. 14, 2048 | 19,876,855 | 16.407 |
| Feb. 14, 2059 | 22,479,517 | 17.279 |
| Feb. 14, 2070 | 26,965,186 | 18.416 |
| Feb. 18, 2104 | 24,879,192 | 13.911 |
| Feb. 17, 2115 | 21,726,941 | 14.294 |
| Feb. 15, 2126 | 19,387,186 | 14.825 |
| Feb. 14, 2137 | 18,699,236 | 15.855 |
| Feb. 15, 2148 | 22,477,420 | 17.328 |
| Feb. 16, 2159 | 27,119,564 | 18.494 |
| Feb. 19, 2193 | 27,599,900 | 13.689 |
Images and Observations
2004 DH2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 17, 2004. It was last officially observed on April 7, 2016. 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 2004 DH2:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 0.9443 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4004
- Inclination: 23.02°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 157.3°
- Argument of Periapsis: 216.13°
- Mean Anomaly: 222.28°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.300 km
- Magnitude: 20.29
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 335 days (0.92 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 30.67 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.32 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.57 AU
- Rotation Period: 8.96 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 427684 (2004 DH2) 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 2004 DH2 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.
