Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 22,599,289 km of Earth in 2027
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
455148 (1994 UG) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1994 UG as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1994 UG orbits the sun every 504 days (1.38 years), coming as close as 0.88 AU and reaching as far as 1.60 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1994 UG is probably between 0.103 to 0.462 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
1994 UG's orbit is 0.02 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.
1994 UG has 18 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2027 | 22,599,289 | 7.031 |
| July 31, 2038 | 12,719,000 | 8.013 |
| March 10, 2045 | 18,110,859 | 11.754 |
| April 13, 2056 | 15,272,432 | 6.559 |
| June 28, 2067 | 20,469,556 | 6.199 |
| Aug. 8, 2078 | 20,230,883 | 11.195 |
| March 19, 2085 | 3,540,086 | 8.560 |
| April 28, 2096 | 19,207,496 | 6.795 |
| June 24, 2107 | 21,377,663 | 6.361 |
| Aug. 4, 2118 | 13,154,728 | 8.770 |
| March 11, 2125 | 19,481,875 | 12.015 |
| March 30, 2136 | 8,714,635 | 7.007 |
| June 9, 2147 | 22,603,126 | 6.807 |
| Aug. 5, 2158 | 14,122,473 | 9.331 |
| March 15, 2165 | 10,942,673 | 10.320 |
| April 21, 2176 | 17,163,285 | 6.628 |
| July 5, 2187 | 19,853,997 | 6.014 |
| Aug. 10, 2198 | 19,717,513 | 11.084 |
Images and Observations
1994 UG's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 28, 1994. It was last officially observed on Dec. 17, 2019. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 317 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
1994 UG can be reached with a journey of 338 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 10.124 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 2,627 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 1994 UG.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 1994 UG:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.239 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2927
- Inclination: 5.21°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 13.61°
- Argument of Periapsis: 225.45°
- Mean Anomaly: 117.18°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.283 km
- Magnitude: 21.13
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 504 days (1.38 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 26.74 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.60 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.88 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 455148 (1994 UG) 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 1994 UG 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.
