Key Facts
- Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a school bus or smaller
- Will pass within 23,599,105 km of Earth in 2021
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2021 LO is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2021 LO 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.
2021 LO orbits the sun every 409 days (1.12 years), coming as close as 0.40 AU and reaching as far as 1.76 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2021 LO is probably between 0.093 to 0.209 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a school bus or smaller.
Close Approaches
2021 LO's orbit is 0.05 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 LO has 5 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2021 | 23,599,105 | 16.063 |
| Feb. 20, 2025 | 15,683,140 | 18.873 |
| June 12, 2030 | 17,038,046 | 23.329 |
| Feb. 18, 2081 | 27,595,110 | 15.620 |
| June 18, 2133 | 7,877,285 | 19.742 |
Images and Observations
2021 LO's orbit is determined by observations dating back to June 2, 2021. It was last officially observed on June 27, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 51 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 LO:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 1.078 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.633
- Inclination: 5.6°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 236.83°
- Argument of Periapsis: 153.86°
- Mean Anomaly: 303.38°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.121 km
- Magnitude: 22.27
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 409 days (1.12 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 28.67 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 1.76 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 0.40 AU
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2021 LO 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 2021 LO 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.
