Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 7,986,335 km of Earth in 2042
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
620096 (2016 HL) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2016 HL as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2016 HL orbits the sun every 892 days (2.44 years), coming as close as 0.70 AU and reaching as far as 2.93 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2016 HL is probably between 0.285 to 0.637 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building.
The rotation of 2016 HL has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 2.93 hours.
Close Approaches
2016 HL's orbit is 0.01 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that its orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit.
2016 HL has 8 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 14, 2042 | 7,986,335 | 15.239 |
| Nov. 5, 2064 | 10,809,822 | 19.017 |
| April 21, 2077 | 16,616,726 | 19.865 |
| April 11, 2099 | 9,516,102 | 15.273 |
| Nov. 17, 2125 | 10,309,283 | 14.784 |
| Nov. 4, 2147 | 19,616,132 | 20.753 |
| April 20, 2160 | 10,502,069 | 18.602 |
| April 13, 2182 | 9,398,138 | 15.238 |
Images and Observations
2016 HL's orbit is determined by observations dating back to May 30, 2011. It was last officially observed on Nov. 26, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 395 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 2016 HL:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.813 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.6155
- Inclination: 5.15°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 232.69°
- Argument of Periapsis: 252.07°
- Mean Anomaly: 33.66°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.368 km
- Magnitude: 19.85
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 892 days (2.44 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 22.11 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 2.93 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.70 AU
- Rotation Period: 2.93 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 620096 (2016 HL) 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 2016 HL 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.
