2005 NB56
2005 NB56, also written as 2005 NB56, is a near-Earth object.[1] This small body has been suggested as a possible source of the Tunguska event on June 30, 1908.[2]
Controversial study
One study "suggests that a chunk of a comet caused the 5-10 megaton fireball, bouncing off the atmosphere and back into orbit around the sun."[2]
This object made a close approach to Earth when it was discovered in 2005 and will do so again in 2045.[3] This object has a poorly known orbit and was only observed over an observation arc of 17 days, not sufficient to predict its position in 1908 with sufficient accuracy.[1]
References
- ^ a b "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2005 NB56)" (2005-07-28 last obs). Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ a b When Comets Attack: Solving the Mystery of the Biggest Natural Explosion in Modern History, By Mark Anderson, Popular Mechanics
- ^ "NEODyS: 2005NB56". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, ITALY. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
External links
- Orbital simulation from JPL (Java) / Ephemeris
- 2005 NB56 at the JPL Small-Body Database
