Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 22,554,475 km of Earth in 2052
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
Jormungandr is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified Jormungandr as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
Jormungandr orbits the sun every 648 days (1.77 years), coming as close as 0.22 AU and reaching as far as 2.71 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, Jormungandr is probably between 0.502 to 1.122 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.
Close Approaches
Jormungandr's orbit is 0.05 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.
Jormungandr has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2052 | 22,554,475 | 35.632 |
| May 15, 2068 | 8,990,206 | 30.934 |
| May 26, 2107 | 27,003,737 | 36.558 |
| May 18, 2123 | 9,634,995 | 31.191 |
| May 26, 2162 | 28,909,313 | 36.912 |
| May 18, 2178 | 10,711,085 | 31.836 |
| May 12, 2194 | 25,648,877 | 27.291 |
Images and Observations
Jormungandr's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 28, 2013. It was last officially observed on June 21, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 375 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 Jormungandr:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.466 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.8507
- Inclination: 23.55°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 229.42°
- Argument of Periapsis: 232.52°
- Mean Anomaly: 320.9°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.648 km
- Magnitude: 18.62
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 648 days (1.77 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.61 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.71 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.22 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of Jormungandr 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 Jormungandr 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.
