Newly discovered asteroid 2017 HV2 to flyby Earth at 0.33 LD

A newly discovered asteroid designated 2017 HV2 will flyby Earth at a distance of 0.33 LD (~126 720 km / 78 740 miles) on April 23, 2017. This is the 21^st known asteroid to flyby Earth within 1 lunar distance since the start of the year (according to data available September 20, 2017).

2017 HV2 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was first observed at Mt. Lemmon Survey on April 22, 2017.

Its size is estimated between 4.4 and 9.9 m (14 – 32 feet) and it will flyby Earth at 22:04 UTC at a speed (relative to the Earth) of 9.58 km/s.

[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]

This is the 21^st known near-Earth asteroid to flyby Earth within 1 lunar distance (~384 000 km / 238 606 miles) since January 9, 2017, according to data available at CNEOS on September 20, 2017.

As of April 20, 2017, there are 16 147 known near-Earth objects (NEOs). Of them, 16 041 are asteroids; 8 748 belong to the Apollo group.

References:

Asteroid 2017 HV2 at Minor Planet Center, CNEOS

Featured image: The green line indicates the object's apparent motion relative to the Earth, and the bright green marks are the object's location at approximately one-hour intervals. The Moon's orbit is gray. The blue arrow points in the direction of Earth's motion and the yellow arrow points toward the Sun. Credit: Minor Planet Center.