Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 20,957,409 km of Earth in 2024
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
523660 (2012 KY41) is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2012 KY41 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 KY41 orbits the sun every 1,060 days (2.90 years), coming as close as 1.07 AU and reaching as far as 2.99 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 KY41 is probably between 0.595 to 1.331 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
2012 KY41's orbit is 0.13 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 KY41 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 28, 2024 | 20,957,409 | 14.784 |
| Oct. 24, 2053 | 22,059,704 | 13.681 |
| Oct. 31, 2108 | 25,524,861 | 15.740 |
| Oct. 23, 2137 | 26,939,018 | 13.316 |
Images and Observations
2012 KY41's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 21, 2012. It was last officially observed on Jan. 28, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 106 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 KY41:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.033 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.4719
- Inclination: 23.06°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 220.88°
- Argument of Periapsis: 144.2°
- Mean Anomaly: 228.9°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.768 km
- Magnitude: 18.25
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,060 days (2.90 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.87 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.99 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.07 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 523660 (2012 KY41) 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 KY41 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.
