(276033) 2002 AJ129

(276033) 2002 AJ129, provisional designation 2002 AJ129, is a Mercury-crossing asteroid. It has the ninth-smallest perihelion of all numbered asteroids, after asteroids such as 2000 BD19, 2004 UL, and 2008 XM. It makes close approaches to all of the inner planets and asteroid 4 Vesta. The asteroid is estimated to be between 0.5–1.2 kilometers (0.3–0.7 mi) across. In January 2018 there was much media hype about this asteroid being classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, although there is no known threat of an impact for hundreds if not thousands of years. The media has compared the size of the asteroid to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

(276033) 2002 AJ129
The orbit is highly elliptical, moving outside Mars and inside Mercury. Positions shown for 31 January 2018 before flyby.
Discovery
Discovered byNEAT
Discovery siteHaleakala Obs.
Discovery date15 January 2002
Designations
MPC designation
(276033) 2002 AJ129
Alternative designations
2002 AJ129
Minor planet category
  • Apollo
  • NEO
  • PHA
  • Mercury-crosser
  • Venus-crosser
Orbital characteristics
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc14.23 yr (5,199 days)
Aphelion2.6254 AU
Perihelion0.1167 AU
Semi-major axis
1.3711 AU
Eccentricity0.9149
Orbital period (sidereal)
1.61 yr (586 days)
Mean anomaly
288.23°
Mean motion
0° 36m 50.04s / day
Inclination15.449°
Longitude of ascending node
138.05°
211.01°
Earth MOID0.0060 AU (2.3 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
0.5–1.2 km
18.7
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