2012 XE133

2012 XE133
Discovery
Discovered byCatalina Sky Survey
Discovery date12 December 2012
Designations
2012 XE133
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5) Epoch (2025-Nov-21.0)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc8.07 yr (2946 days)
Aphelion1.0360 AU (154.98 Gm)
Perihelion0.41032 AU (61.383 Gm)
0.72316 AU (108.183 Gm)
Eccentricity0.43261
0.61 yr (224.5 d)
194.21°
1.6027°/day
Inclination6.7277°
281.007°
337.108°
Earth MOID0.00250483 AU (374,717 km)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions72 m[a][3]
23.4[2]

2012 XE133 is an asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Aten group that is a temporary co-orbital of Venus.[4]

Discovery, orbit and physical properties

2012 XE133 was first observed on 12 December 2012 by J. A. Johnson working for the Catalina Sky Survey. As of January 2026, it has been observed 180 times with a data-arc span of about 8 years. It is an Aten asteroid and its semi-major axis of 0.72 AU is very similar to that of Venus but its eccentricity is rather large (0.4332) and its inclination of 6.7° is also significant. With an absolute magnitude of 23.4, it has a diameter of approximately 62 to 138 meters. On 26 November 2020, 2012 XE133 was recovered[5] and now has a well established orbit with an uncertainty parameter of 0.[6][7] The asteroid often makes close approaches to Earth within 0.05 AU, and the next close approach will occur on 30 December 2028, approaching Earth at 0.0099 AU (and the Moon at 0.0080 AU)[7]

Quasi-satellite dynamical state and orbital evolution

2012 XE133 has been identified as a Venus co-orbital following a transitional path between Venus's Lagrangian points L5 point and L3 point.[4] Besides being a Venus co-orbital, this asteroid is also a Mercury grazer and an Earth crosser. 2012 XE133 exhibits resonant (or near-resonant) behavior with Mercury, Venus and the Earth.[4] Its short-term dynamical evolution is similar to that of two other Venus co-orbitals, 2001 CK32 and Zoozve.[4]

See also

Notes

  • ^ This is assuming an albedo of 0.25–0.05.

References

  1. ^ List Of Aten Minor Planets
  2. ^ a b c "2012 XE133". JPL Small-Body Database. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. SPK-ID: 3620867. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d de la Fuente Marcos, C.; de la Fuente Marcos, R. (2013). "Asteroid 2012 XE133, a transient companion to Venus". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 432 (2): 886–893. arXiv:1303.3705. Bibcode:2013MNRAS.432..886D. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt454.
  5. ^ "MPEC 2020-W187 : 2012 XE133". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  6. ^ "IAU Minor Planet Center". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  7. ^ a b "Small-Body Database Lookup". JPL Small-Body Database. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
Further reading