Written By: Astrophyzix Science Communication
Published: 15 January 2026
Image Credit: Nasa/Arecibo/NSF
Introduction
Upcoming Close Approach: On January 22, 2026, the well tracked and observed asteroid 509352 (2007 AG) will pass near Earth at a safe distance beyond the Moon's orbit. This asteroid is classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid but poses no threat on this close approach.
509352 (2007 AG) — Overview
- Discovered: January 8, 2007
- Discovery Site: Mount Lemmon
- Discoverer: Mt. Lemmon Survey
- Object Type: Atira Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA)
- Absolute Magnitude (H): 20.14
- Observations: 269
- Oppositions Observed: 8
- Arc Length: 6,947 days (first used: 2007, last used: 2026)
- Uncertainty Parameter: 0 (well-determined orbit)
Orbit Characteristics
- Epoch: 2025-11-21
- Orbital Period: 0.61 years
- Semimajor Axis: 0.7207 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.3742
- Inclination: 11.94°
- Perihelion Distance: 0.451 AU (closest approach to Sun)
- Aphelion Distance: 0.990 AU (farthest distance from Sun)
- Argument of Perihelion: 5.69°
- Ascending Node: 283.22°
- Mean Anomaly: 116.94°
- Mean Daily Motion: 1.6109°/day
- Tisserand w.r.t Jupiter: 7.9
- ΔV w.r.t Earth: 10.9 km/s
Minimum Orbit Intersection Distances (MOID)
- Mercury: 0.00236 AU
- Venus: 0.15012 AU
- Earth: 0.0038 AU (extremely close!)
- Mars: 0.60527 AU
- Jupiter: 4.15085 AU
- Saturn: 8.03793 AU
- Uranus: 17.523 AU
- Neptune: 28.8945 AU
Observational Data
- First Observation Used: 2007-01-08
- Last Observation Used: 2026-01-14
- Residual RMS (arc-seconds): 0.69
- Orbit Computation: MPCORBFIT
- Perturbers Coarse Indicator: M-v
- Perturbers Precise Indicator: 003Ek
Key Points
- 509352 (2007 AG) is a rare Atira asteroid, entirely inside Earth's orbit.
- Its close proximity to Earth and well-determined orbit make it important for monitoring.
- Continuous observations allow astronomers to refine its orbit and predict future close approaches.
- Classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid, though current trajectories are safe.
- Upcoming Close Approach: On January 22, 2026, 509352 (2007 AG) will pass near Earth at a safe distance beyond the Moon's orbit.