Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a school bus or smaller
- Will pass within 16,384,183 km of Earth in 2020
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2020 XJ2 is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2020 XJ2 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.
2020 XJ2 orbits the sun every 1,460 days (4.00 years), coming as close as 1.07 AU and reaching as far as 3.98 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2020 XJ2 is probably between 0.037 to 0.082 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
Close Approaches
2020 XJ2's orbit is 0.09 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.
2020 XJ2 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 6, 2020 | 16,384,183 | 8.819 |
| Dec. 13, 2024 | 23,083,790 | 10.441 |
Images and Observations
2020 XJ2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 7, 2020. It was last officially observed on Jan. 3, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 29 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 2020 XJ2:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.524 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.577
- Inclination: 8.96°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 261.35°
- Argument of Periapsis: 158.95°
- Mean Anomaly: 250.74°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.047 km
- Magnitude: 24.3
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,460 days (4.00 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 18.81 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.98 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.07 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2020 XJ2 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 2020 XJ2 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.
