2009 VA is an asteroid that came within 14,000 kilometres (8,700 mi) of Earth on 6 November 2009 making it the third closest non-impacting approach of a cataloged asteroid.[2]
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Catalina Sky Survey |
Discovery date | 6 November 2009 |
Designations | |
none | |
Apollo (NEO) | |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
Epoch 6 November 2009 (JD 2455141.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 8 | |
Aphelion | 1.9382 AU (289.95 Gm) |
Perihelion | 0.91768 AU (137.283 Gm) |
1.4280 AU (213.63 Gm) | |
Eccentricity | 0.35735 |
1.71 yr (623.26 d) | |
338.95° | |
0° 34m 39.396s /day | |
Inclination | 7.5411° |
224.54° | |
223.99° | |
Earth MOID | 0.000130811 AU (19,569.0 km) |
Jupiter MOID | 3.30322 AU (494.155 Gm) |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 7 m |
28.6 | |
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Asteroid_2009_VA.png/220px-Asteroid_2009_VA.png)
With a diameter of only 7 metres (23 ft), scientists think that even if it had been on a direct collision course with Earth, it would have likely burned up in the atmosphere.[3] The space rock made its pass by Earth just fifteen hours after its discovery.[4]
The asteroid was first discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey at the University of Arizona. It was determined that the object would make a pass well within the orbit of the Moon, but would not strike Earth. The object passed so close to Earth that its orbit was modified by Earth's gravity.[4]
See also
edit- 2008 TC3
- 2010 RF12, 2010 RX30, 2010 TD54 - a similar-sized asteroids that passed Earth in 2010
- List of notable asteroids#Record-setting close approaches to Earth for other, closer approaches
- List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2009
References
edit- ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2009 VA)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Small Asteroid 2009 VA Whizzes By Earth". Science Daily. Archived from the original on 15 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
- ^ Small Asteroid Spotted Flying Close To Earth Archived 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, redorbit.com, 11 November 2009
- ^ a b Alan Boyle. "Space rock buzzes past Earth". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
External links
edit- Small Asteroid 2009 VA Whizzes By The Earth
- 2009 VA at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 2009 VA at ESA–space situational awareness
- 2009 VA at the JPL Small-Body Database