2001AB12

2001 AB12 is a Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) with a diameter estimated to be between 1.4 and 3.1 kilometers. It belongs to the Aten class of asteroids, meaning its semi-major axis is less than 1 AU and its aphelion is greater than 0.983 AU. This orbital characteristic places it within Earth's orbit for a significant portion of its revolution around the Sun.

First observed on January 15, 2001, by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in Socorro, New Mexico, its discovery marked another addition to the catalog of objects that frequently pass near our planet. The asteroid's orbital period is approximately 338 days, and it has an orbital eccentricity of 0.31. Its orbital inclination is a mere 1.35 degrees, contributing to its relatively close passes with Earth.

While 2001 AB12 is not currently considered a threat, its orbit is monitored by space agencies to track potential future close approaches. The Torino Scale, a system used to rate the impact risk of near-Earth objects, currently lists 2001 AB12 at a rating of 0, indicating no risk of impact. Continued observation and refinement of its orbital parameters are standard practice for all NEAs.