2009 DD45
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Designations
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|
|---|---|
| Minor planet category |
Apollo |
| Epoch 23 July 2010 (JD 2455400.5) | |
| Aphelion | 1.495274 AU |
| Perihelion | .98652105 AU |
| Semi-major axis | 1.240897 AU |
| Eccentricity | .204994 |
| Orbital period | 504.896 days (1.38233 a) |
| Average orbital speed | .713018 °/d |
| Mean anomaly | 352.825 ° |
| Inclination | 13.74520 ° |
| Longitude of ascending node | 161.961802 ° |
| Argument of perihelion | 13.8840 ° |
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Physical characteristics
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|
| Dimensions | 0.019±0.004 km |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 25.8 mag |
2009 DD45 is a small Apollo asteroid[1] that passed near Earth at an altitude of 63,500 km (39,500 mi) on 2 March 2009 at 13:44 UTC. It was discovered by Australian astronomers at the Siding Spring Observatory on 27 February 2009, only three days before its closest approach to the Earth.[2][3] Its estimated diameter is between 15 and 23 metres.[1] This is about the same size as a hypothetical object that could have caused the Tunguska event in 1908.[4]
BBC News Online cites the minimum distance as 72,000 km (45,000 mi) (about 1/5 lunar distances).[4][5] 2009 DD45 passed farther away (40 thousand miles versus 4 thousand miles) but was substantially larger than 2004 FU162, a small asteroid about 6 m (20 ft) across which came within about 6,500 km (4,000 mi) in 2004,[4] and is more similar in size to 2004 FH. Some scientists speculate that this near-Earth asteroid could return because of the Earth's gravitational pull;[6] some predict the next close encounter of 2009 DD45 with Earth's orbit will be in 2067.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "JPL Small-Body Database Browser (2009 DD45)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. last obs. used 2009-03-06. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2009%20DD45;orb=1. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
- ^ Kelly Beatty (2009-03-01). "Space Rock 2009 DD45 Buzzes Earth". Sky & Telescope. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/observingblog/40504617.html. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
- ^ Victoria Jaggard (2009-03-02). "Surprise Asteroid Just Buzzed Earth". National Geographic Society. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090302-asteroid-earth.html. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
- ^ a b c "Space rock makes close approach". BBC News Online. 2009-03-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7921279.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- ^ Scientific American, May 2009 issue, listed the minimum distance as 72,200 km (p. 26)
- ^ Ben Sandilands (2009-03-02). "Sky Not Falling, Just Passing Quite Close". Crikey. http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20090302-The-intruder.html. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
- ^ Buzzed, Scientific American, May 2009, p. 26
[edit] External links
- NASA JPL Small-Body Database Browser on 2009 DD45
- Universe Today article on 2009 DD45
- 100 meter asteroid will pass Earth Monday!, Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy blog
- NEO Asteroid 2009 DD45 from Canberra on YouTube
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