2004 FU162
{{Short description|Closest known Earth approach until 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{mp|2004 FU|162}}}}
{{Infobox planet
| minorplanet = yes
| name = {{mp|2004 FU|162}}
| background = #FFC2E0
| image =
| caption =
| discovered =
| discoverer =
| discovery_site =
| mpc_name = {{mp|2004 FU|162}}
| alt_names =
| epoch = 5 April 2004 (JD 2453100.5)
| uncertainty = 9
| observation_arc = 44 minutes{{efn|name=arc}}
(only 4 observations)
| aphelion = 1.1511 AU
| perihelion = 0.5026 AU
| semimajor = 0.8269 AU
| eccentricity = 0.3922
| period = 0.75 yr (275 days)
| mean_anomaly = 262.67°
| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|1.3109|sup=ms}} / day
| inclination = 4.1647°
| asc_node = 191.25°
| arg_peri = 139.78°
| moid = 0.0001 AU
| dimensions = 4–12 meters {{small|(estimated)}}
| rotation =
| albedo =
| spectral_type =
}}
{{mp|2004 FU|162}} is an Aten near-Earth asteroid less than 20 meters in diameter crudely estimated to have passed roughly 6500 km above the surface of Earth{{efn|name=surface}} on 31 March 2004.
It was only observed for 44 minutes on 31 March 2004,{{efn|name=arc}} by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) team at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site in Socorro, New Mexico, and remains a lost asteroid. The estimated 4 to 6 meter sized body made one of the closest known approaches to Earth.
Description
On 31 March 2004, around 15:35 UTC, the asteroid is crudely estimated to have passed within approximately 1 Earth radius ({{Earth radius}}) or 6,400 kilometers of the surface of the Earth (or 2.02 {{Earth radius}} from Earth's center). But due to the very short observation arc, the uncertainty in the close approach distance is a large ±15000 km. By comparison, geostationary satellites orbit at 5.6 {{Earth radius}} and GPS satellites orbit at 3.17 {{Earth radius}} from the center of the Earth.
{{As of|2008}} this was the third or fourth closest approach. The first observation of {{mp|2004 FU|162}} was not announced until 22 August 2004.
It was only observed four times in the space of 44 minutes and could not be followed up. Nevertheless, "the orbit is quite determinate and, given the exceptional nature of this close approach, the object is now receiving a designation". No precovery images have been found.
{{mp|2004 FU|162}} is estimated to be approximately 6 meters in diameter.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} This means that it would burn up from atmospheric friction before striking the ground in the case of an Earth impact.
On 26 March 2010, it may have come within 0.0825 AU (12.3 million km) of Earth, but with an uncertainty parameter of 9, the orbit is poorly determined.
Another, larger near-Earth asteroid, 2004 FH passed just two weeks prior to {{mp|2004 FU|162}}.
A closer non-impacting approach to Earth was not known until {{mp|2008 TS|26}} on 9 October 2008.
See also
{{Closest non-impacting asteroids to Earth}}
Notes
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=arc|Observation arc: (31.30799 – 31.27744) * 24 hours * 60 minutes {{=}} 43.99 minutes}}
{{efn|name=surface|The asteroid passed about 12913±15000 km from the center of Earth and Earth has a radius of 6371 km.}}
}}
References
{{reflist
|refs=
|type = last observation: 2004-03-31; arc: 1 day; uncertainty: 9
|title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2004 FU162)
|publisher = Jet Propulsion Laboratory
|url = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2004FU162&view=OPC
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128181049/http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2004FU162;cad=1
|archive-date=2020-11-28
|url-status=live
|accessdate = 28 April 2017}}
|title = 2004 FU162
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2004+FU162
|accessdate = 28 April 2017}}
|date=22 August 2004
|title=Closest by far
|publisher=hohmanntransfer
|url=http://www.hohmanntransfer.com/mn/0408/22.htm
|accessdate=2004-08-25
|archive-date=5 November 2016
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105153448/http://www.hohmanntransfer.com/mn/0408/22.htm
|url-status=dead
}}
}}
External links
- [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/mpec/K04/K04Q22.html MPEC 2004-Q22] (2004 Aug. 22)
- {{JPL small body|id=3249978}}
{{Small Solar System bodies}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2004 FU162}}