Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 16,815,707 km of Earth in 2052
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
531277 (2012 MM11) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2012 MM11 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2012 MM11 orbits the sun every 1,120 days (3.07 years), coming as close as 0.74 AU and reaching as far as 3.48 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2012 MM11 is probably between 0.232 to 0.518 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2012 MM11 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 13.00 hours.
Close Approaches
2012 MM11'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 MM11 has 4 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2052 | 16,815,707 | 13.737 |
| Nov. 15, 2092 | 26,665,307 | 12.857 |
| Nov. 30, 2129 | 15,461,338 | 13.710 |
| Aug. 19, 2163 | 28,400,777 | 12.704 |
Images and Observations
2012 MM11's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 24, 2012. It was last officially observed on Feb. 3, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 549 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 MM11:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.113 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6481
- Inclination: 3.18°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 245.43°
- Argument of Periapsis: 124.23°
- Mean Anomaly: 213.11°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.299 km
- Magnitude: 20.3
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,120 days (3.07 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.52 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.48 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.74 AU
- Rotation Period: 13.00 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 531277 (2012 MM11) 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 MM11 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.
