2010 GA6

Last updated

2010 GA6
2010GA6 in April 8 2010.jpg
2010 GA6, captured by Purple Mountain Observatory in 8 April 2010
Discovery [1] [2]
Discovered by CSS
Discovery site Mount Lemmon Obs.
Discovery date5 April 2010
Designations
2010 GA6
NEO  · Apollo [1] [3]
Mars-crosser
Orbital characteristics [3]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 6
Observation arc 4 days
Aphelion 3.6863 AU
Perihelion 0.9292 AU
2.3078 AU
Eccentricity 0.5973
3.51 yr (1,281 days)
87.507°
0° 16m 51.96s / day
Inclination 9.7541°
197.67°
34.334°
Earth  MOID 0.0040 AU (1.6 LD)
Physical characteristics
22 m (72 ft) [4]
19 m(est. at 0.20) [5]
36 m(est. at 0.057) [5]
25.9 [4]  ·26.0 [3]

    2010 GA6 is a micro-asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group. It was first observed on 5 April 2010, by astronomers of the Catalina Sky Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, United States, four days before a close approach to Earth at 1.1 lunar distances on 9 April 2010. [1] [2] It has not been observed since. [1]

    Contents

    Orbit and classification

    2010 GA6 is an Apollo asteroid. Apollo's cross the orbit of Earth and are the largest group of near-Earth objects with nearly 10 thousand known members. It orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 0.93–3.69  AU once every 3 years and 6 months (1,281 days; semi-major axis of 2.31 AU). Its orbit has a high eccentricity of 0.60 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic. [3] With an aphelion of 3.69 AU, it is also a Mars-crossing asteroid, as it crosses the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.666 AU. [3]

    Close approach

    With a 1-day observation arc, 2010 GA6 had a 1 in 6 million chance of impacting Earth in 2074. [6] It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 8 April 2010. [7] The asteroid has now a minimum orbital intersection distance with Earth of 599,000 km; 372,000 mi (0.004005 AU), [3] which corresponds to 1.6 lunar distances, and is notably larger than the nominal distance of its 2010-flyby.

    2010 flyby

    On 9 April 2010, 02:07 UT, the asteroid passed Earth at a nominal distance of 434,000 km; 270,000 mi (0.0029 AU) or 1.1 lunar distances. [4] [3] A stony asteroid 22 meters in diameter can be expected to create an air burst with the equivalent of 300 kilotons of TNT at an altitude of 21 kilometers (69,000 ft). [8] Generally only asteroids larger than 35 meters across pose a threat to a town or city. [9] There are no projection of future close approaches to Earth available. [3]

    Physical characteristics

    According to NASA astronomers, 2010 GA6 measures approximately 22 meters (72 ft) in diameter. [4] Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, the asteroid measures between 19 and 36 meters in diameter, for an absolute magnitude of 22.6, and an assumed albedo between 0.057 and 0.20, which represent typical values for carbonaceous and stony asteroids, respectively. [5]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet has neither been numbered nor named. [1]

    See also

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="nowrap">(511002) 2013 MZ<sub>5</sub></span>

    (511002) 2013 MZ5, provisional designation 2013 MZ5, is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Amor group, estimated to measure approximately 300 meters (1,000 feet) in diameter. It was discovered on 18 June 2013, by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory on the island of Maui, Hawaii, in the United States. It was the 10,000th near-Earth object ever discovered.

    (456938) 2007 YV56, provisional designation 2007 YV56, is a sub-kilometer asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 190–360 meters (620–1,200 ft) in diameter. It was discovered on 31 December 2007, by astronomers of the Catalina Sky Survey conducted at the Catalina Station in Arizona, United States.

    2012 UE34 is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 70 meters (230 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 18 October 2012, by Pan-STARRS at Haleakala Observatory on the island of Maui, Hawaii, in the United States. The object was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 29 December 2013. On 8 April 2041 it will pass Earth at a nominal distance of 0.0007329 AU (110,000 km; 68,000 mi). Due to its presumed small size, it does not qualify as a potentially hazardous asteroid, despite its low Earth MOID.

    <span class="nowrap">2017 BQ<sub>6</sub></span> Asteroid

    2017 BQ6 is a sub-kilometer asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 150 meters in diameter. It was discovered on 26 January 2017, by the Space Surveillance Telescope at Lincoln Laboratory's ETS (Atom Site) and passed within 6.6 lunar distances of Earth on 7 February 2017 at 6:36 UT.

    <span class="nowrap">(671294) 2014 JO<sub>25</sub></span> Near-Earth asteroid discovered in 2014.

    (671294) 2014 JO25 is a near-Earth asteroid. It was discovered in May 2014 by astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona - a project of NASA's NEO (Near Earth Object) Observations Program in collaboration with the University of Arizona.

    2017 SX17 is a very small asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 6–12 meters (20–40 feet) in diameter. It was first observed by astronomers of the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory on 29 September 2017, three days prior to its sub-lunar close encounter with Earth at 0.23 lunar distances on 2 October 2017.

    <span class="nowrap">2017 VL<sub>2</sub></span>

    2017 VL2 is a micro-asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group. It was first observed by ATLAS at Mauna Loa Observatory on 10 November 2017, a day after it passed inside the orbit of Earth.

    <span class="nowrap">2017 OO<sub>1</sub></span> Small asteroid

    2017 OO1 is a small asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Aten group, approximately 35–76 meters (115–249 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 23 July 2017, by the robotic ATLAS survey at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, two days after the object had approached Earth at 0.33 lunar distances on 21 July 2017.

    2017 XX61 is a small near-Earth object, approximately 17 meters (56 feet) in diameter that follows an eccentric orbit. This Apollo asteroid was first observed on 15 December 2017, by astronomers of the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. It transited Earth at 8 lunar distances on 18 December 2017 at 14:54 UTC, and was lost on the following night. As of 2020, it has not been recovered.

    (585310) 2017 YZ1, provisional designation: 2017 YZ1, is a sub-kilometer asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 250 meters (800 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 20 December 2017, by astronomers with the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory near Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. On 29 January 2018, it passed Earth at 125 lunar distances.

    <span class="nowrap">2017 XO<sub>2</sub></span>

    2017 XO2, also written 2017 XO2, is a sub-kilometer asteroid and near-Earth object of the Apollo group approximately 110 meters (360 feet) in diameter. The asteroid was discovered by Pan-STARRS in December 2017, after it already had approached Earth at 0.051 AU (7,600,000 km) or 20 lunar distances (LD) on 6 November 2017. On 26 April 2057, it will pass Earth at a similar distance of 21 LD again.

    <span class="nowrap">2018 CN<sub>2</sub></span>

    2018 CN2 is a very small asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 5 to 16 meters in diameter. It was first observed by astronomers of the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, on 8 February 2018, one day prior its close encounter with Earth at 0.18 lunar distances.

    <span class="nowrap">2018 CY<sub>2</sub></span>

    2018 CY2 is an asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, with an estimated diameter of 59–190 metres (190–620 ft). It was first observed on 9 February 2018, by astronomers of the Catalina Sky Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, during its close approach to Earth.

    <span class="nowrap">2018 CF<sub>2</sub></span>

    2018 CF2 is a micro-asteroid and near-Earth object of the Apollo group on an eccentric orbit with has an estimated 4–15 meters (10–50 ft). It was first observed on 7 February 2018, by astronomers of the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, United States. The discovery occurred the day after its sub-lunar passage as it approached the Earth from a sunward direction, and this flyby altered the asteroid's orbit slightly.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 CC</span>

    2018 CC is a micro-asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 20 meters (70 ft) in diameter. Its official first observation was made by the Catalina Sky Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, United States, on 4 February 2018. Two days later, the asteroid crossed the orbit of the Moon and made a very close approach to Earth.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 BD</span>

    2018 BD is a small asteroid and near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 2–6 meters (7–20 ft) in diameter. It was first observed on 18 January 2018, by astronomers of the Catalina Sky Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, United States, just hours before passing about 0.10 lunar distances from the Earth.

    <span class="nowrap">2018 DV<sub>1</sub></span>

    2018 DV1 is a micro-asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Aten group, approximately 6–12 meters (20–40 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 26 February 2018, by astronomers of the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, five days prior to its sub-lunar close encounter with Earth at less than 0.3 lunar distance.

    <span class="nowrap">2018 GE<sub>3</sub></span>

    2018 GE3 is a sub-kilometer asteroid on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 48–110 meters (160–360 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 14 April 2018, by astronomers with the Catalina Sky Survey one day prior to its sub-lunar close encounter with Earth at 0.5 lunar distance. It is one of the largest known asteroids (possibly the largest) in observational history to ever pass that close to Earth (also see list).

    <span class="nowrap">2019 BZ<sub>3</sub></span>

    2019 BZ3 is a very small near-Earth asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 6 meters (20 feet) in diameter. It was first observed by the Mount Lemmon Survey on 28 January 2019, just hours after the asteroid's sub-lunar flyby of Earth at less than 0.12 lunar distance.

    2019 PG1 is a sub-kilometer near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo class, discovered by Pan-STARRS on 8 August 2019, two weeks after it passed Earth at 62 LD. With an observation arc of 103 days, Earth approach dates become divergent by 2042 as the date of closest approach in 2042 has an uncertainty of ±3 days.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 "2010 GA6". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
    2. 1 2 "MPEC 2010-G23 : 2010 GA6". IAU Minor Planet Center. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2013. (K10G06A)
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2010 GA6)" (2010-04-09 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory . Retrieved 15 February 2018.
    4. 1 2 3 4 "Asteroid to Fly by Within Moon's Orbit Thursday". NASA/JPL. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
    5. 1 2 3 "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
    6. ↑ "Observations of small Solar-System bodies". hohmanntransfer. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2013. (1.6e-07 = 1 in 6,250,000 chance)
    7. ↑ "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
    8. ↑ Robert Marcus; H. Jay Melosh & Gareth Collins (2010). "Earth Impact Effects Program". Imperial College London / Purdue University. Retrieved 4 February 2013. (solution using 22 meters, 2600kg/m^3, 17km/s, 45 degrees)
    9. ↑ Will Ferguson (22 January 2013). "Asteroid Hunter Gives an Update on the Threat of Near-Earth Objects". Scientific American . Retrieved 23 January 2013.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.