2004 FU162
Encyclopedia
is a meteoroid
which passed within about one Earth
radius (~6400 km) of the surface of the Earth at 15:35 UTC on March 31, 2004 (or 2.02 Earth radii from the centre of the Earth.) this is the third or fourth closest approach. The discovery was not announced until August 22, 2004.
By comparison, geostationary satellites orbit at 5.6 Earth radii and GPS satellites orbit at 3.17 Earth radii from the center of the Earth.
It was only observed four times in the space of 44 minutes and could not be followed up, and no pre-discovery
images have been found. Nevertheless, its calculated orbit is considered "quite determinate".
is estimated to be only 6 meters in diameter. This means that it would burn up from atmospheric friction
before striking the ground in the case of an impact
. Objects under 50 meters in diameter are generally classified as a meteoroid
instead of an asteroid
.
On March 26, 2010 it came within 0.0825AU (12.3 million km) of Earth.
Another, larger near earth meteoroid, 2004 FH
passed just two week prior to 162.
Meteoroid
A meteoroid is a sand- to boulder-sized particle of debris in the Solar System. The visible path of a meteoroid that enters Earth's atmosphere is called a meteor, or colloquially a shooting star or falling star. If a meteoroid reaches the ground and survives impact, then it is called a meteorite...
which passed within about one Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
radius (~6400 km) of the surface of the Earth at 15:35 UTC on March 31, 2004 (or 2.02 Earth radii from the centre of the Earth.) this is the third or fourth closest approach. The discovery was not announced until August 22, 2004.
By comparison, geostationary satellites orbit at 5.6 Earth radii and GPS satellites orbit at 3.17 Earth radii from the center of the Earth.
It was only observed four times in the space of 44 minutes and could not be followed up, and no pre-discovery
Precovery
Precovery is a term used in astronomy that describes the process of finding the image of an object in old archived images or photographic plates, for the purpose of calculating a more accurate orbit...
images have been found. Nevertheless, its calculated orbit is considered "quite determinate".
is estimated to be only 6 meters in diameter. This means that it would burn up from atmospheric friction
Drag (physics)
In fluid dynamics, drag refers to forces which act on a solid object in the direction of the relative fluid flow velocity...
before striking the ground in the case of an impact
Impact event
An impact event is the collision of a large meteorite, asteroid, comet, or other celestial object with the Earth or another planet. Throughout recorded history, hundreds of minor impact events have been reported, with some occurrences causing deaths, injuries, property damage or other significant...
. Objects under 50 meters in diameter are generally classified as a meteoroid
Meteoroid
A meteoroid is a sand- to boulder-sized particle of debris in the Solar System. The visible path of a meteoroid that enters Earth's atmosphere is called a meteor, or colloquially a shooting star or falling star. If a meteoroid reaches the ground and survives impact, then it is called a meteorite...
instead of an asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
.
On March 26, 2010 it came within 0.0825AU (12.3 million km) of Earth.
Another, larger near earth meteoroid, 2004 FH
2004 FH
2004 FH is a near-Earth asteroid that was discovered on March 15, 2004, by the NASA-funded LINEAR asteroid survey. The object is roughly 30 metres in diameter and passed just above the Earth's surface on March 18, 2004, at 22:08 UTC; making it the 11th closest approach to Earth recorded...
passed just two week prior to 162.
See also
- Apollo asteroidApollo asteroidThe Apollo asteroids are a group of near-Earth asteroids named after 1862 Apollo, the first asteroid of this group to be discovered by Karl Wilhelm Reinmuth...
- Near-Earth asteroid
- List of notable asteroids
- Wikipedia Project: Astronomical Objects
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Horizons Ephemeris
- Near Earth Object Program (at NASA.gov)
- MPEC 2004-Q22
- http://www.HohmannTransfer.com/mn/0408/22.htm