Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 7,344,443 km of Earth in 2034
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2011 CG2 is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2011 CG2 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.
2011 CG2 orbits the sun every 467 days (1.28 years), coming as close as 0.99 AU and reaching as far as 1.36 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2011 CG2 is probably between 0.089 to 0.399 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2011 CG2 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 10.81 hours.
Close Approaches
2011 CG2's orbit is 0.03 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.
2011 CG2 has 13 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2034 | 7,344,443 | 2.719 |
| March 18, 2057 | 12,076,210 | 5.212 |
| July 21, 2057 | 27,114,431 | 2.074 |
| May 31, 2071 | 5,463,141 | 2.896 |
| Feb. 10, 2085 | 26,349,871 | 2.420 |
| June 19, 2085 | 9,091,908 | 5.041 |
| May 20, 2108 | 6,478,357 | 2.757 |
| June 28, 2122 | 23,346,125 | 7.919 |
| March 13, 2131 | 22,959,318 | 7.617 |
| May 11, 2145 | 7,025,601 | 2.724 |
| Feb. 10, 2159 | 26,824,500 | 2.550 |
| June 21, 2159 | 9,721,223 | 5.210 |
| June 6, 2182 | 4,531,946 | 3.153 |
Images and Observations
2011 CG2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 11, 2011. It was last officially observed on Nov. 7, 2020. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 431 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
2011 CG2 can be reached with a journey of 418 days. This trajectory would require a delta-v of 7.632 km/s. To put this into perspective, the delta-v to launch a rocket to Low-Earth Orbit is 9.7 km/s. There are 147,982 potential trajectories and launch windows to this asteroid.
See more at the NHATS Mission Trajectories table for 2011 CG2.
Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2011 CG2:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.177 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.1584
- Inclination: 2.76°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 293.18°
- Argument of Periapsis: 283.94°
- Mean Anomaly: 247.29°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.244 km
- Magnitude: 21.45
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 467 days (1.28 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 27.42 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.36 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.99 AU
- Rotation Period: 10.81 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2011 CG2 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 2011 CG2 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.
