Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 29,508,853 km of Earth in 2040
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
505178 (2012 TV78) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2012 TV78 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2012 TV78 orbits the sun every 894 days (2.45 years), coming as close as 0.82 AU and reaching as far as 2.81 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 TV78 is probably between 0.341 to 0.762 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
2012 TV78'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.
2012 TV78 has 11 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 6, 2040 | 29,508,853 | 10.886 |
| March 24, 2062 | 22,854,759 | 10.083 |
| Nov. 28, 2066 | 24,054,135 | 18.067 |
| April 13, 2084 | 15,660,361 | 13.960 |
| Dec. 8, 2088 | 3,840,658 | 14.041 |
| March 26, 2106 | 22,267,371 | 10.097 |
| Feb. 6, 2128 | 29,641,674 | 10.893 |
| Dec. 24, 2149 | 15,217,021 | 10.770 |
| April 20, 2167 | 19,062,923 | 15.680 |
| Dec. 11, 2171 | 3,547,875 | 13.790 |
| March 3, 2189 | 28,451,004 | 10.339 |
Images and Observations
2012 TV78's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 11, 2002. It was last officially observed on Oct. 25, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 333 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 TV78:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.816 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5486
- Inclination: 7.47°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 251.75°
- Argument of Periapsis: 244.95°
- Mean Anomaly: 107.42°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.440 km
- Magnitude: 19.46
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 894 days (2.45 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 22.10 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.81 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.82 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 505178 (2012 TV78) 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 2012 TV78 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.
