2012 HG2
2012 HG2
Current distance from Earth
220,900,095km
574.7 lunar distances1.477 AU
Heliocentric orbit · top-down · live
Next close approach
2047-Feb-12
Passes 0.33 lunar distances from Earth — about 128,748 km, closing at 4.2 km/s.
Long-term impact monitoring
2012 HG2 is tracked on the long-term monitoring list — here’s what the numbers actually mean.
Torino scale
0 — No hazard
Cumulative impact chance
1 in 373
0.268% across all dates
Palermo scale
-3.70
below background risk
Possible dates tracked
821
between 2052 and 2126
A Torino rating of 0 means no cause for concern, and a Palermo value of -3.70 — below zero — means the chance is lower than the background risk of a similar random impact over the same period. The headline figure is a cumulative probability spread across 821 possible dates between 2052 and 2126, so the chance on any one date is far smaller still. No impact is predicted, and objects are routinely removed from monitoring as their orbits are refined — both Apophis and 2024 YR4 were.
Orbit class
APO
around the Sun
Orbital period
1.30 yr
474 days
Diameter
14 m
about the size of a house
Eccentricity
0.181
orbit shape
Inclination
0.1°
to the ecliptic
Discovered
—
Size in perspective
1.3×2012 HG2 is 1.3× the size of a double-decker bus.
Observe it tonight
Apparent brightness
mag 34.4
Too faint to observe
Right ascension
12h 16m
Declination
−1° 37′
From your location
tap to check ›
2012 HG2 is currently faint (magnitude 34.4) — it brightens around close approaches. Position is in equatorial coordinates (J2000); pair it with our sky conditions to plan a session.
Frequently asked questions
How close does 2012 HG2 come to Earth?
Its next notable close approach is on 2047-Feb-12, when it passes about 0.33 lunar distances from Earth — roughly 128,748 km, closer than many satellites. 2012 HG2 is currently about 575 lunar distances away — the live orbit and distance are shown above.
Is 2012 HG2 going to hit Earth?
No impact is predicted. 2012 HG2 is tracked on the long-term impact-monitoring list with a cumulative chance of roughly 1 in 373, spread across 821 possible dates between 2052 and 2126 — a very low probability. Its Torino rating is 0 (no hazard), and its Palermo value of -3.70 sits below the background level. Objects are removed from monitoring as their orbits are refined. The full impact-monitoring breakdown is shown above.
How big is 2012 HG2?
2012 HG2 is estimated at about 14 m across — about the size of a house. Size estimates are derived from how bright the asteroid appears and refined by radar and thermal measurements when it passes close to Earth.
What kind of orbit does 2012 HG2 have?
2012 HG2 is APO object. It orbits the Sun once every 1.30 years, on an elliptical path that reaches beyond Earth’s orbit and swings back toward the Sun. The interactive orbit diagram above shows where it is right now.
Can I see 2012 HG2 through a telescope?
Most of the time 2012 HG2 is far too faint to see, but during a close approach it can brighten enough for amateur telescopes. Check the close-approach date above, then plan your night with our sky and space-weather tools.
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