3360 Syrinx (originally designated 1981 VA) is an Apollo and Mars crosser asteroid discovered in 1981. It approaches Earth to within 40 Gm three times in the 21st century: 33 Gm in 2039, 40 Gm in 2070, and 24 Gm in 2085.

(3360) Syrinx
Discovery
Discovered byEleanor F. Helin
R. Scott Dunbar
Discovery date4 November 1981
Designations
(3360) Syrinx
Pronunciation/ˈsɪrɪŋks/[1]
Named after
Syrinx
1981 VA
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc12556 days (34.38 yr)
Aphelion4.30603 AU (644.173 Gm)
Perihelion0.62791 AU (93.934 Gm)
2.46697 AU (369.053 Gm)
Eccentricity0.74547
3.87 yr (1415.3 d)
315.35°
0° 15m 15.732s / day
Inclination21.154°
242.561°
63.457°
Earth MOID0.107877 AU (16.1382 Gm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions1.8 km
0.9 km
0.17
15.9

On 20 September 2012, it closely encountered Earth at a distance of 0.4192 AU (62,710,000 km; 38,970,000 mi),[2] peaking in brightness at an apparent magnitude of 17.0.[3] In opposition on 23 November 2012, it brightened to magnitude 16.0.[3]

It is a member of the Alinda group of asteroids with a 3:1 resonance with Jupiter that has excited the eccentricity of the orbit over the eons.[4] As an Alinda asteroid it makes approaches to Jupiter, Earth, and Venus.[2]

For a time, it was the lowest numbered asteroid that had not been named. In November 2006, this distinction passed to 3708 Socus, and in May 2021 to (4596) 1981 QB.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "syrinx". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c "JPL Close-Approach Data: 3360 Syrinx (1981 VA)" (2009-01-22 last obs). Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b "NEODys (3360) Syrinx Ephemerides for 20 September 2012". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  4. ^ John S Lewis (3 August 2015). "The Alinda Family of Asteroids". Retrieved 26 June 2019.
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