(177049) 2003 EE16

(177049) 2003 EE16
Discovery[1]
Discovered bySpacewatch
Discovery siteKitt Peak National Obs.
Discovery date8 March 2003
Designations
(177049) 2003 EE16
NEO · PHA · Apollo[2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc4429 days (12.13 yr)
Earliest precovery date17 May 2002
Aphelion2.2878 AU (342.25 Gm)
Perihelion0.54666 AU (81.779 Gm)
1.4172 AU (212.01 Gm)
Eccentricity0.61427
1.69 yr (616.24 d)
296.40°
0° 35m 3.084s / day
Inclination0.64964°
127.04°
259.67°
Earth MOID9.93475×10−5 AU (1.486217×104 km)
Physical characteristics
0.320 km[3]
Mass5.1×1010 kg (assumed)
19.7[2]

(177049) 2003 EE16, provisionally known as 2003 EE16, is an Apollo near-Earth asteroid and potentially hazardous object.[2] It was discovered on 8 March 2003 by LPL/Spacewatch II at an apparent magnitude of 20 using a 1.8-meter (71 in) reflecting telescope.[1] It has an estimated diameter of 320 meters (1,050 ft).[3] The asteroid was listed on Sentry Risk Table with a Torino Scale rating of 1 on 2 April 2003.[3]

Description

Many of the virtual impactors were located near the nominal orbital solution and the asteroid has a low inclination relative to Earth's orbit.[4] Observation by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) 8 meter facilities on 22 May and 19 June 2003 when 2003 EE16 was very dim with an apparent magnitude between 24–25[note 1] refined the orbit.[4] It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 28 May 2003.[5]

2003 EE16 has the smallest Earth Minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) of any known potentially hazardous asteroid.[6] The Earth MOID is 0.0000475 AU (7,110 km; 4,420 mi).[6] Asteroids with a smaller Earth MOID are less than ~100 meters in diameter such as 2013 XY8 and 2010 TD54. Earth impactors 2008 TC3 and 2014 AA had small Earth MOID values as they were on their impact approach when discovered.

Close-approaches to Earth[7]
Date Distance from Earth
2014-07-01 0.0966 AU (14,450,000 km; 8,980,000 mi) (37.6 LD)
2041-07-01 0.0992 AU (14,840,000 km; 9,220,000 mi) (38.6 LD)
2067-01-31 0.0874 AU (13,070,000 km; 8,120,000 mi) (34.0 LD)
2094-01-30 0.0747 AU (11,170,000 km; 6,940,000 mi) (29.1 LD)
2122-07-04 0.0743 AU (11,120,000 km; 6,910,000 mi) (28.9 LD)
2149-07-06 0.0518 AU (7,750,000 km; 4,820,000 mi) (20.2 LD)
2175-02-02 0.0802 AU (12,000,000 km; 7,460,000 mi) (31.2 LD)

Notes

  1. ^ At an apparent magnitude of 24, the asteroid was roughly 10 million times fainter than can be seen with the naked eye.
    Math:

References

  1. ^ a b "MPEC 2003-E34 : 2003 EE16". IAU Minor Planet Center. 9 March 2003. Retrieved 3 February 2014. (K03E16E)
  2. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 177049 (2003 EE16)" (2013-03-12 last obs and observation arc=10.8 years). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Current Impact Risks (2003 EE16)". Near-Earth Object Program. NASA. 2 April 2003. Archived from the original on 2 April 2003.
  4. ^ a b "2003 EE16". Spaceguard Central Node. 15 July 2003. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  6. ^ a b "JPL Small-Body Database Search Engine: H <= 22 (mag) and Earth MOID < 0.0027 (AU)". JPL Solar System Dynamics. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  7. ^ "JPL Close-Approach Data: 177049 (2003 EE16)" (2013-03-12 last obs and observation arc=10.8 years). Retrieved 3 February 2014.