(292220) 2006 SU₄₉

(292220) 2006 SU₄₉, provisional designation 2006 SU₄₉, is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group that had a small chance of impacting Earth in 2029.[2][3]

(292220) 2006 SU₄₉

Discovery [1]
Discovered by	Spacewatch
Discovery site	Kitt Peak National Obs.
Discovery date	20 September 2006
Designations
MPC designation	(292220) 2006 SU49
Alternative designations	2006 SU49 2001 UV17
Minor planet category	Apollo NEO PHA [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	14.95 yr (5,462 days)
Aphelion	1.8533 AU
Perihelion	0.9718 AU
Semi-major axis	1.4125 AU
Eccentricity	0.3121
Orbital period	1.68 yr (613 days)
Mean anomaly	67.239°
Mean motion	0° 35^m 13.56^s / day
Inclination	2.5187°
Longitude of ascending node	303.14°
Argument of perihelion	198.98°
Earth MOID	0.0008 AU (0.3 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	0.377 km (estimate)[3]
Mass	7.3×10^10 kg (estimate)[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	19.5[1]

It was discovered on 20 September 2006, by the Spacewatch project at the University of Arizona using the dedicated 0.9-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. The asteroid was calculated to measure 377 meters in diameter with a mass of 7.3×10¹⁰ kg.[3]

Description

2006 SU₄₉ had a 1 in 42,000 chance of impacting Earth on 22 January 2029. By 29 October 2006, it was listed with a Torino Scale impact risk value of 0. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 23 November 2006.[4] It is now known that on 28 January 2029, the asteroid will be 0.00818 AU (1,224,000 km; 760,000 mi) from Earth.[1]

It is a near-Earth asteroid that received minor attention in late September and early October 2006 because initial observations indicated a higher than usual probability that it would strike the Earth in 2029. However, the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) removed 2006 SU₄₉ from its risk list as additional observations provided improved predictions that eliminated the possibility of an impact on Earth or the Moon through 2106. Similarly, NEODyS estimates show a zero impact probability through 2080.

2006 SU₄₉ briefly led the Earth-impact hazard list from 27 September 2006 through 4 October 2006, temporarily displacing (144898) 2004 VD17 from the number one position. At the time, both held a Torino scale of level 1 and were the only asteroids to hold a Torino value greater than 0.

Even though 2006 SU₄₉ has an Earth MOID of 0.0003 AU (45,000 km; 28,000 mi), the orbit and future close approaches are well determined with an orbital uncertainty of 0.[1] It is also an Earth-crosser and Mars-crosser asteroid.

See also

• List of notable asteroids
• Asteroid deflection strategies

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 292220 (2006 SU49)" (2016-10-02 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
2. "292220 (2006 SU49)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
3. "2006 SU49 Impact Risk". Near Earth Object Program. NASA. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006.
4. "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring – Removed Objects". NASA/JPL CNEOS – Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. Retrieved 20 January 2018.

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info)
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• (292220) 2006 SU49 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Obs prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Obs info · Close · Physical info · NEOCC
• (292220) 2006 SU49 at ESA–space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical Properties · Summary
• (292220) 2006 SU49 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters