Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
- Will pass within 20,494,246 km of Earth in 2041
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
99799 (2002 LJ3) is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2002 LJ3 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2002 LJ3 orbits the sun every 646 days (1.77 years), coming as close as 1.06 AU and reaching as far as 1.87 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2002 LJ3 is probably between 0.521 to 1.164 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Close Approaches
2002 LJ3's orbit is 0.12 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.
2002 LJ3 has 6 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1, 2041 | 20,494,246 | 6.288 |
| Sept. 8, 2094 | 20,996,289 | 3.869 |
| Sept. 5, 2117 | 18,396,558 | 5.197 |
| Aug. 30, 2140 | 27,912,781 | 8.139 |
| Sept. 11, 2170 | 24,998,458 | 3.590 |
| Sept. 7, 2193 | 18,402,595 | 4.832 |
Images and Observations
2002 LJ3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 10, 1989. It was last officially observed on June 24, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 2,022 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 2002 LJ3:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.462 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.2757
- Inclination: 7.56°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 122.35°
- Argument of Periapsis: 249.92°
- Mean Anomaly: 284.27°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.672 km
- Magnitude: 18.54
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 646 days (1.77 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 24.62 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.87 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.06 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 99799 (2002 LJ3) 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 2002 LJ3 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.
