Discovery date April 24, 2008 Earth moid 0.2 cm | MPC designation 2008 HJ Discovered 24 April 2008 Absolute magnitude 25.7 | |
Aphelion 2.29553 AU (343.406 Gm) (Q) Perihelion 0.968318 AU (144.8583 Gm) (q) Discoverer Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research | ||
2008 HJ is a small near-Earth asteroid orbiting the Sun. It was discovered by Lincoln Laboratory ETS, New Mexico. Observers M. Bezpalko, D. Torres, R. Kracke, G. Spitz, J. Kistler. Richard Miles using the Faulkes Telescope South at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia determined that the asteroid rotates rapidly. It measures only 12 m by 24 m and is very dense, having a mass of about 5,000 tonnes. If the asteroid was not dense, it is probable that the rapid rotation would cause the asteroid to disrupt and fly apart.
At the time of discovery, 2008 HJ had the smallest known rotation period in the Solar System, completing one revolution every 42.7 seconds.
It is listed on the Sentry Risk Table with a 1 in 15,000 chance of impacting Earth on May 2, 2081. An impact from this object would be comparable to the Chelyabinsk meteor.