2021 HK12

Mid-sized Amor-class Asteroid

Near-Earth Potentially Hazardous
Space Reference » Amor-class Asteroids » 2021 HK12

Key Facts

  • Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
  • Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Will pass within 23,694,146 km of Earth in 2075
  • Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
  • Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
  • See orbit simulation

Overview

2021 HK12 is a mid-sized asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2021 HK12 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

2021 HK12 orbits the sun every 2,180 days (5.97 years), coming as close as 1.04 AU and reaching as far as 5.53 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2021 HK12 is probably between 0.781 to 1.746 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 99% of asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Close Approaches

2021 HK12's orbit is 0.04 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.

2021 HK12 has 14 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:

Date Distance from Earth (km) Velocity (km/s)
Oct. 7, 2075 23,694,146 28.654
Oct. 4, 2081 14,957,391 28.309
Oct. 3, 2087 11,998,720 28.086
Oct. 2, 2093 10,378,523 28.081
Oct. 3, 2099 11,682,531 28.094
Oct. 4, 2105 12,947,123 28.237
Oct. 6, 2111 15,656,842 28.317
Oct. 7, 2117 19,587,943 28.590
Oct. 8, 2123 20,938,802 28.615
Oct. 8, 2129 23,265,944 28.849
Oct. 7, 2135 18,900,188 28.619
Oct. 5, 2141 13,898,170 28.499
Oct. 2, 2147 6,877,160 28.147
Sept. 27, 2153 16,150,941 27.985

Images and Observations

2021 HK12's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 17, 2015. It was last officially observed on Nov. 4, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 77 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 2021 HK12:

References

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Orbital Elements

  • Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
  • Semi-major axis: 3.285 AU
  • Eccentricity: 0.6844
  • Inclination: 47.04°
  • Longitude of Ascending Node: 187.07°
  • Argument of Periapsis: 168.82°
  • Mean Anomaly: 102.97°

Physical Characteristics

  • Diameter: ~1.008 km
  • Magnitude: 17.66

Derived Characteristics

  • Orbit Period: 2,180 days (5.97 years)
  • Avg. Orbit Speed: 16.39 km/s
  • Aphelion Distance: 5.53 AU
  • Perihelion Distance: 1.04 AU

Map Comparison

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Orbit Simulation

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Sky Map

The position of 2021 HK12 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 2021 HK12 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.