212P/NEAT

Mid-sized Jupiter-family Comet

Space Reference » Jupiter-family Comets » 212P/NEAT

Key Facts

Overview

212P/NEAT is a mid-sized comet whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has not classified 212P/NEAT as potentially hazardous because its orbit does not bring it close to Earth.

212P/NEAT orbits the sun every 2,840 days (7.78 years), coming as close as 1.65 AU and reaching as far as 6.20 AU from the sun. 212P/NEAT is about 1.7 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, comparable in size to Mount Everest.

No Close Approaches

212P/NEAT's orbit is 0.68 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a very 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

212P/NEAT's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 1, 2000. It was last officially observed on March 30, 2017. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 124 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration

This comet 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 212P/NEAT:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2454872.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 3.929 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.5789
  • Inclination: 22.4°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 98.93°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 15.05°
  • Mean Anomaly: 8.7°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: 1.70000 km
  • Magnitude: 18.0
  • Albedo: 0.096

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 2,840 days (7.78 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 15.05 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 6.20 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 1.65 AU

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 212P/NEAT 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 212P/NEAT 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.