Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 24,557,256 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
500094 (2012 BC20) is a small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2012 BC20 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.
2012 BC20 orbits the sun every 588 days (1.61 years), coming as close as 0.99 AU and reaching as far as 1.76 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 BC20 is probably between 0.486 to 1.087 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 2012 BC20 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 16.11 hours.
Close Approaches
2012 BC20's orbit is 0.15 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.
2012 BC20 has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 15, 2020 | 24,557,256 | 14.969 |
| Aug. 14, 2049 | 22,131,748 | 13.567 |
| Aug. 14, 2078 | 29,031,182 | 12.598 |
| Aug. 17, 2115 | 23,674,839 | 14.823 |
| Aug. 15, 2144 | 22,008,568 | 13.502 |
| Aug. 15, 2173 | 29,662,960 | 12.540 |
Images and Observations
2012 BC20's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 21, 2012. It was last officially observed on Jan. 27, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,295 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 2012 BC20:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.374 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2789
- Inclination: 23.84°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 151.65°
- Argument of Periapsis: 103.89°
- Mean Anomaly: 4.63°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.627 km
- Magnitude: 18.69
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 588 days (1.61 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 25.42 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.76 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.99 AU
- Rotation Period: 16.11 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 500094 (2012 BC20) 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 2012 BC20 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.
