| Orbit of 2001 SL9 | |
| Discovery [1] [2] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | NEAT |
| Discovery site | Palomar Obs. |
| Discovery date | 18 September 2001 |
| Designations | |
| 2001 SL9 | |
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 22318 days (61.10 yr) |
| Aphelion | 1.3480 AU (201.66 Gm) |
| Perihelion | 0.77471 AU (115.895 Gm) |
| 1.0613 AU (158.77 Gm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.27006 |
| 1.09 yr (399.37 d) | |
| 239.06° | |
| 0° 54m 5.112s / day | |
| Inclination | 21.900° |
| 202.86° | |
| 329.30° | |
| Known satellites | 1 |
| Earth MOID | 0.197987 AU (29.6184 Gm) |
| Jupiter MOID | 3.64009 AU (544.550 Gm) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 1 km (0.62 mi) [3] | |
| Mass | 109 mt |
Mean density | 1.8 g/cm3 [2] |
Equatorial surface gravity | 0.02565 mm/s2 [4] |
Equatorial escape velocity | 0.05116 mm/s [4] |
| 2.4004 h (0.10002 d) | |
| 2.40035±0.00005 hours [1] [5] | |
| 0.16 [2] | |
| Temperature | 230-303 K (-43-30°C) [4] |
| 17.6 [1] | |
(88710) 2001 SL9 (provisional designation 2001 SL9) is a sub-kilometer asteroid and binary system, classified as near-Earth object of Apollo group [1] discovered by NEAT at Palomar Observatory on 18 September 2001. It measures approximately 960 meters in diameter, while its 2001-discovered minor-planet moon has an estimated diameter of 200 meters based on a secondary to primary size ratio of 0.28. [2]
Although 2001 SL9 is classified as a near-Earth object, it does not pose any threats. It has never, nor will it ever in the next century, come closer than 15,000,000 km (0.1 AU) from Earth or Venus. [1] However, the asteroid would make a good target for a spacecraft flyby, as a flyby to 2001 SL9 would only require a delta-v of 5.4 km/s. [6]
2001 SL9 has one minor-planet moon. It was discovered from lightcurve observations [6] made by Czech astronomer Petr Pravec and collaborators. [2] This moon is approximately 200 m (660 ft) in diameter. Its semi-major axis is 1.6 km (0.99 mi) and its orbital period is 16.4 hours. [2]