Overview of Asteroid 2006 GC1

Asteroid 2006 GC1 is a well-documented Apollo-class near-Earth object (NEO) that is officially classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA).[1] Its classification as a PHA is determined by its physical dimensions and its Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) with Earth, which is calculated at approximately $0.00914\mathrm{\text{AU}}$, or roughly 1.37 million kilometers.[1] Due to over 15 years of observational data, the object possesses a highly constrained orbital solution, denoted by a condition code of 0.[1]

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The orbital characteristics of 2006 GC1 are defined by a high eccentricity of $e=0.817$, which results in a perihelion that reaches deep into the orbital region of Mercury.[1] Based on an absolute magnitude ($H$) of 20.5, astronomers estimate the object's diameter to be between 200 and 400 meters.[1] On April 5, 2026, the asteroid made a notable close approach to Earth at a distance of approximately 0.08876 AU (13.3 million kilometers), traveling at a relative velocity of about $30.66\mathrm{\text{km/s}}$.[1] Current dynamical models and orbital solutions indicate that there is no impact risk associated with this object for any known future approaches.[1]

The study of such objects is fundamental to planetary science, as detailed in foundational texts regarding the dynamics of the solar system and the hazards posed by near-Earth objects.[2] [3] These studies rely on precise astrometric measurements to refine the orbits of asteroids, ensuring that potential threats are identified well in advance.[4] [5]

Would you like to learn more about the methods astronomers use to calculate the impact probability of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids, or perhaps explore the history of Apollo-class asteroid discoveries?