614689 (2020 XL5)

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Apollo-class Asteroid
• Comparable in size to a football field
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

614689 (2020 XL5) is a very small asteroid whose orbit crosses the orbit of Earth. NASA JPL has classified 2020 XL5 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 XL5 orbits the sun every 366 days (1.00 years), coming as close as 0.61 AU and reaching as far as 1.39 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2020 XL5 is probably between 0.233 to 0.520 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than 90% of asteroids but tiny compared to large asteroids, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.

No Close Approaches

2020 XL5's orbit is 0.08 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.

Orbital simulations conducted by NASA JPL's CNEOS do not show any close approaches to Earth.

Images and Observations

2020 XL5's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Dec. 23, 2012. It was last officially observed on Nov. 9, 2021. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 57 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 XL5:

• 3753 Cruithne (1986 TO)
• 10563 Izhdubar (1993 WD)
• 54509 YORP (2000 PH5)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 614689 (2020 XL5) 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 XL5 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.