480817 (1998 SJ2) is a small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 1998 SJ2 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.
1998 SJ2 orbits the sun every 1,300 days (3.56 years), coming as close as 1.16 AU and reaching as far as 3.50 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 1998 SJ2 is probably between 0.587 to 1.312 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge.
1998 SJ2's orbit is 0.17 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.
1998 SJ2 has 3 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
---|---|---|
Sept. 10, 2062 | 28,096,570 | 6.859 |
Sept. 12, 2094 | 26,278,840 | 6.945 |
Sept. 11, 2126 | 29,903,942 | 6.973 |
1998 SJ2's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Sept. 18, 1998. It was last officially observed on May 31, 2019. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 164 observations used to determine its orbit.
The position of 480817 (1998 SJ2) 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.
The above comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 1998 SJ2 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.