Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the U.S. Capitol building
- Will pass within 18,594,606 km of Earth in 2039
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
65909 (1998 FH12) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 1998 FH12 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
1998 FH12 orbits the sun every 416 days (1.14 years), coming as close as 0.50 AU and reaching as far as 1.68 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1998 FH12 is probably between 0.367 to 0.820 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 1998 FH12 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 3.00 hours.
Close Approaches
1998 FH12'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.
1998 FH12 has 18 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2039 | 18,594,606 | 20.458 |
| Feb. 15, 2047 | 5,941,067 | 16.533 |
| June 30, 2052 | 7,045,190 | 15.581 |
| Feb. 10, 2055 | 26,535,584 | 11.849 |
| June 24, 2060 | 14,954,395 | 19.837 |
| Feb. 19, 2088 | 13,599,128 | 19.354 |
| July 4, 2093 | 24,001,771 | 12.370 |
| Feb. 14, 2096 | 9,365,235 | 15.394 |
| July 1, 2101 | 5,703,249 | 15.854 |
| Feb. 12, 2104 | 25,113,741 | 12.111 |
| June 27, 2109 | 8,749,149 | 18.586 |
| Feb. 18, 2137 | 7,874,585 | 17.913 |
| July 4, 2142 | 16,771,790 | 13.701 |
| Feb. 13, 2145 | 15,878,681 | 13.936 |
| June 29, 2150 | 4,271,758 | 17.657 |
| Feb. 17, 2178 | 6,332,579 | 16.479 |
| July 1, 2183 | 2,440,504 | 16.560 |
| June 26, 2191 | 16,798,313 | 20.195 |
Images and Observations
1998 FH12's orbit is determined by observations dating back to March 25, 1998. It was last officially observed on April 12, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 523 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 1998 FH12:References
Search
or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.091 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5398
- Inclination: 3.56°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 108.6°
- Argument of Periapsis: 284.5°
- Mean Anomaly: 211.01°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.474 km
- Magnitude: 19.3
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 416 days (1.14 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 28.53 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.68 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.50 AU
- Rotation Period: 3.00 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 65909 (1998 FH12) 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 1998 FH12 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.
