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Nominal orbit of 2011 AG5 passing the Earth-Moon system in February 2040. Earth is the blue dot, the Moon's orbit is gray, and 2011AG5 is green.
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Discovery[1]
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| Discovered by | Mt. Lemmon Survey (G96) 1.5-m reflector |
| Discovery date | 8 January 2011 |
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Designations
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| MPC designation | 2011 AG5 |
| Minor planet category |
Apollo NEO, PHA[2] |
| Epoch 2011-Aug-27 (Uncertainty=4)[2] |
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| Aphelion | 1.989 AU (Q) |
| Perihelion | 0.8718 AU (q) |
| Semi-major axis | 1.430 AU (a) |
| Eccentricity | 0.3905 |
| Orbital period | 1.71 yr |
| Mean anomaly | 89.69° (M) |
| Inclination | 3.680° |
| Longitude of ascending node | 135.7° |
| Argument of perihelion | 53.47° |
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Physical characteristics
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| Dimensions | ~140 meters[3] |
| Mass | 4×109 kg (assumed)[3] |
| Mean density | ? g/cm³ |
| Equatorial surface gravity | ? |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 21.87[2] |
2011 AG5 (also written 2011 AG5) is a near-Earth asteroid and potentially hazardous object.[2] It has an observation arc of 256 days,[2] and is listed on the Sentry Risk Table with a rating on the Torino Scale of Level 1.[4] A Torino rating of 1 is a routine discovery in which a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger.[5] It was discovered on 8 January 2011 by the Mt. Lemmon Survey at an apparent magnitude of 19.6 using a 1.5-metre (59 in) reflecting telescope.[1] The asteroid has a diameter of about 0.14 km,[3] and is noted by the Minor Planet Center for a potential close approach to the Earth in the year 2040 of about 0.001920 AU (287,200 km; 178,500 mi).[6]
Virtual clones of the asteroid that fit the uncertainty region in the known trajectory show 5 potential impacts between 2040 and 2047.[3] It has a cumulative 1 in 625 chance of impacting the Earth.[3] The asteroid will also pass 0.01 AU (1,500,000 km; 930,000 mi) from the Earth on 3 February 2023,[7][8] allowing a refinement to the known trajectory.
As of October 2011[update], 2011 AG5 and 2007 VK184 are the only near-earth objects to be listed above level 0 on the Torino Scale.[4] With a cumulative Palermo Technical Scale of -1.12,[3] the odds of impact by 2011 AG5 are about 13 times less[9] than the background hazard level of Earth impacts which is defined as the average risk posed by objects of the same size or larger over the years until the date of the potential impact.[10]
| Preceded by 99942 Apophis |
Large NEO Earth close approach (inside the orbit of the moon) February 5, 2040 |
Succeeded by 2005 WY55 |
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