Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 16,781,183 km of Earth in 2039
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
537395 (2015 LG2) is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2015 LG2 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2015 LG2 orbits the sun every 516 days (1.41 years), coming as close as 1.03 AU and reaching as far as 1.49 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2015 LG2 is probably between 0.213 to 0.476 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2015 LG2 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 16.31 hours.
Close Approaches
2015 LG2's orbit is 0.02 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.
2015 LG2 has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 12, 2039 | 16,781,183 | 11.870 |
| Aug. 1, 2056 | 11,676,616 | 11.883 |
| Aug. 9, 2080 | 11,904,084 | 11.682 |
| July 30, 2097 | 16,570,792 | 12.150 |
| Aug. 11, 2121 | 11,834,118 | 11.677 |
| Aug. 2, 2138 | 13,115,031 | 11.959 |
| Aug. 13, 2162 | 16,630,764 | 11.843 |
| Aug. 3, 2179 | 11,352,175 | 11.876 |
Images and Observations
2015 LG2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 10, 2002. It was last officially observed on June 2, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 214 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 2015 LG2:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.26 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.1816
- Inclination: 21.28°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 133.12°
- Argument of Periapsis: 188.9°
- Mean Anomaly: 260.92°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.275 km
- Magnitude: 20.48
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 516 days (1.41 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 26.57 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.49 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.03 AU
- Rotation Period: 16.31 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 537395 (2015 LG2) 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 2015 LG2 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.
