612223 (2001 QF6)

Mid-sized Centaur-class Asteroid

Space Reference » Centaur-class Asteroids » 612223 (2001 QF6)

Key Facts

Overview

612223 (2001 QF6) is a mid-sized asteroid with an orbit between Jupiter and Neptune. NASA JPL has not classified 2001 QF6 as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

2001 QF6 orbits the sun every 7,130 days (19.52 years), coming as close as 2.27 AU and reaching as far as 12.23 AU from the sun. 2001 QF6 is about 5.4 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to the San Francisco Bay.

No Close Approaches

2001 QF6's orbit is 1.38 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is an extremely wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2001 QF6's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Aug. 21, 1982. It was last officially observed on March 3, 2022. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 149 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 2001 QF6:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 7.25 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.6865
  • Inclination: 24.41°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 143.1°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 240.99°
  • Mean Anomaly: 40.73°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 5.40000 km
  • Magnitude: 15.53
  • Albedo: 0.040

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 7,130 days (19.52 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 11.06 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 12.23 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 2.27 AU

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 612223 (2001 QF6) 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 2001 QF6 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.