Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 20,221,669 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
620056 (2004 UR1) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2004 UR1 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2004 UR1 orbits the sun every 1,170 days (3.20 years), coming as close as 0.84 AU and reaching as far as 3.52 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2004 UR1 is probably between 0.208 to 0.466 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
Close Approaches
2004 UR1'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.
2004 UR1 has 10 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 23, 2020 | 20,221,669 | 18.162 |
| June 12, 2049 | 7,423,796 | 15.996 |
| June 22, 2065 | 6,393,930 | 13.429 |
| July 27, 2081 | 26,171,453 | 11.813 |
| Sept. 2, 2097 | 27,399,990 | 11.931 |
| Oct. 13, 2113 | 8,472,379 | 13.694 |
| Oct. 24, 2129 | 16,107,340 | 17.561 |
| June 18, 2158 | 4,199,909 | 14.973 |
| June 24, 2174 | 7,269,841 | 13.505 |
| Aug. 4, 2190 | 26,868,634 | 11.814 |
Images and Observations
2004 UR1's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Oct. 23, 2004. It was last officially observed on Dec. 7, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 243 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 2004 UR1:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.176 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6161
- Inclination: 4.08°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 250.92°
- Argument of Periapsis: 73.49°
- Mean Anomaly: 336.38°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.269 km
- Magnitude: 20.53
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,170 days (3.20 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 20.23 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.52 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.84 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 620056 (2004 UR1) 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 2004 UR1 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.
