(612600) 2003 SM84

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(612600) 2003 SM84
Discovery [1]
Discovered by LINEAR
Discovery site Lincoln Laboratory ETS
Discovery date20 September 2003
(first observed only)
Designations
2003 SM84
NEO  · Amor [1] [2]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 1
Observation arc 18.24 yr (6,663 d)
Aphelion 1.2177 AU
Perihelion 1.0331 AU
1.1254 AU
Eccentricity 0.0820
1.19 yr (436 d)
279.101°
0° 49m 32.16s / day
Inclination 2.7961°
186.633°
87.375°
Earth  MOID 0.0510 AU
(19.8685 LD)
Physical characteristics
75  m (est. at 0.20) [3]
140  m (est. at 0.057) [3]
23.0 [2]

    (612600) 2003 SM84 is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Amor group orbiting between Earth and Mars. It was first observed by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) at the Lincoln Laboratory ETS on 20 September 2003. [1] As of 2026, this minor planet has not been named. [1]

    2003 SM84 is an Amor asteroid – a subgroup of near-Earth asteroids that approach the orbit of Earth from beyond, but do not cross it. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.0–1.2  AU once every 14 months (436 days; semi-major axis of 1.22 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.08 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic. [2] The body's observation arc begins with its first observation by LINEAR in 2003. [1]

    The object's spectral type remains unknown. [2] Using a magnitude-to-diameter conversion, 2003 SM84 measures 75 and 140 meters in diameter, based on an absolute magnitude of 23.0 and an assumed albedo of 0.20 (S-type) and 0.057 (C-type), respectively. [3] 2003 SM84 was being considered by the European Space Agency as a candidate target for the Don Quijote mission to study the effects of impacting a spacecraft into an asteroid. [4]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 "2003 SM84". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2003 SM84)" (2021-12-17 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
    3. 1 2 3 "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
    4. ↑ Nerlich, Steve (13 August 2011). "Astronomy Without A Telescope – Impact Mitigation". www.universetoday. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
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