2010 GA6

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{mp|2010 GA|6}}}}

{{Infobox planet

| minorplanet = yes

| name = {{mp|2010 GA|6}}

| background = #FFC2E0

| image = 2010GA6 in April 8 2010.jpg

| image_scale =

| caption = {{mp|2010 GA|6}}, captured by Purple Mountain Observatory in 8 April 2010

| discovery_ref =

| discoverer = CSS

| discovery_site = Mount Lemmon Obs.

| discovered = 5 April 2010

| mpc_name = {{mp|2010 GA|6}}

| alt_names =

| pronounced =

| named_after =

| mp_category = NEO{{·}}Apollo
Mars-crosser

| orbit_ref =

| epoch = 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)

| uncertainty = 6

| observation_arc = 4 days

| aphelion = 3.6863 AU

| perihelion = 0.9292 AU

| semimajor = 2.3078 AU

| eccentricity = 0.5973

| period = 3.51 yr (1,281 days)

| mean_anomaly = 87.507°

| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.2811|sup=ms}} / day

| inclination = 9.7541°

| asc_node = 197.67°

| arg_peri = 34.334°

| moid = 0.0040 AU (1.6 LD)

| mean_diameter = {{convert|22|m|ft|abbr=on|sp=us}}
{{val|19|u=m}} {{small|(est. at 0.20)}}
{{val|36|u=m}} {{small|(est. at 0.057)}}

| rotation =

| albedo =

| spectral_type =

| abs_magnitude = 25.9{{·}}26.0

}}

{{mp|2010 GA|6}} 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. It has not been observed since.

Orbit and classification

{{mp|2010 GA|6}} 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. 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.

= Close approach =

With a 1-day observation arc, {{mp|2010 GA|6}} had a 1 in 6 million chance of impacting Earth in 2074. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 8 April 2010. The asteroid has now a minimum orbital intersection distance with Earth of {{convert |0.004005 |AU |km mi|abbr=on |lk=off |sigfig=3 |order=flip}}, 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 {{convert |0.0029 |AU |km mi|abbr=on |lk=off |sigfig=3 |order=flip}} or 1.1 lunar distances. 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 {{convert|21|km|ft|sp=us}}. Generally only asteroids larger than 35 meters across pose a threat to a town or city. There are no projection of future close approaches to Earth available.

Physical characteristics

According to NASA astronomers, {{mp|2010 GA|6}} measures approximately {{convert|22|m|ft|sp=us}} in diameter. 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.

Numbering and naming

This minor planet has neither been numbered nor named.

See also

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web

|type = 2010-04-09 last obs.

|title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2010 GA6)

|url = https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=3514890;cad=1

|publisher = Jet Propulsion Laboratory

|accessdate = 15 February 2018}}

{{cite web

|title = 2010 GA6

|work = Minor Planet Center

|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2010+GA6

|accessdate = 15 February 2018}}

{{Cite web

|title=MPEC 2010-G23 : 2010 GA6

|publisher=IAU Minor Planet Center

|date=2010-04-05

|url=http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K10/K10G23.html

|accessdate=2013-02-08}} (K10G06A)

{{cite web

|date=2010-04-07

|title=Observations of small Solar-System bodies

|publisher=hohmanntransfer

|url=http://www.hohmanntransfer.com/mn/10/10097_0407.htm#2010GA6

|accessdate=2013-02-08}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20041102072638/http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/ip?1.6e-07 1.6e-07] = 1 in 6,250,000 chance)

{{cite web

|title = Asteroid to Fly by Within Moon's Orbit Thursday

|date = 6 April 2010

|publisher = NASA/JPL

|url = https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2010-115

|accessdate = 15 February 2018}}

{{cite web

|title = Asteroid Size Estimator

|publisher = CNEOS NASA/JPL

|url = https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/ast_size_est.html

|accessdate = 15 February 2018}}

{{cite web

|title=Date/Time Removed

|publisher=NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office

|url=http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/removed.html

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020602101400/http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/removed.html

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=2002-06-02

|accessdate=2012-03-19}}

{{cite web

|date=2010

|title=Earth Impact Effects Program

|publisher=Imperial College London / Purdue University

|author=Robert Marcus

|author2=H. Jay Melosh

|author3=Gareth Collins

|name-list-style=amp

|url=http://impact.ese.ic.ac.uk/ImpactEffects/

|accessdate=2013-02-04}} (solution using 22 meters, 2600kg/m^3, 17km/s, 45 degrees)

{{cite web

|date=January 22, 2013

|title=Asteroid Hunter Gives an Update on the Threat of Near-Earth Objects

|publisher=Scientific American

|author=Will Ferguson

|url=http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/01/22/asteroid-hunter-gives-an-update-on-the-threat-of-near-earth-objects/

|accessdate=2013-01-23}}

}}