SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2012 LZ1

2012 LZ1

2012 LZ1 is an Amor-type near-Earth asteroid that approaches Earth from beyond our orbit without crossing it, orbiting the Sun at 2.56 AU once every 4.10 yr.

Amor Observations: 716
Orbital Period · P
4.10 yr
v(q)
36.6 km/s
v(Q)
9.5 km/s
Diameter · ≈
0.37 km
TJ
3.05
Eccentricity · e
0.5887

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.053 AU) and its farthest (4.067 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.014 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.10 yr (1,496 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.56 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.589) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 26.07° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 36.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 9.5 km/s at aphelion.

Its perihelion lies just outside Earth's orbit, which is why it is classed as Earth-approaching rather than Earth-crossing.

Size and surface

The measured diameter is 1.25 km, a value from direct size determination rather than from brightness alone.

Its geometric albedo of 0.012 indicates a very dark, carbonaceous-type surface.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 716 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.2735 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

About these computed values

Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

Orbital Parameters

Semi-Major Axis
2.56 AU
Eccentricity
0.5887
Perihelion
1.053 AU
Aphelion
4.067072 AU
Inclination
26.07°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2461200.5
Mean Anomaly
148.17°

Orbit diagram

The Sun sits at the focus (orange). Earth's orbit is the grey circle at 1 AU. The red dot marks the object's position at the catalog epoch.

3D orbit (interactive)

Drag to rotate; scroll or pinch to zoom. The Sun is at the focus (orange), Earth's orbit is the grey ring at 1 AU, and the red dot marks the object's current position.

Close approaches

No close approaches to Earth are currently on record for this object.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
1.252 km
Albedo
0.012
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
19.91

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.27345
Condition
0
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database . Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.