2020 QG
Perihelion 0.99628 AU | | |
1.9448±0.0006 AU | ||
Eccentricity | 0.48772±0.0002 | |
2.71 yr (990.51±0.47 d) | ||
337.41±0.011° | ||
0° 21m 48.696s / day | ||
Inclination | 5.4727±0.004° | |
143.50° | ||
1 August 2020 03:43 UT | ||
162.01±0.003° | ||
Earth MOID | 0.00027 AU (40,000 km) | |
Physical characteristics | ||
Mean diameter | ~3 m (est. at ~0.17)[3] 2–14 m (est. at 0.01–0.60)[3] | |
29.87±0.25[4] | ||
2020 QG, also known by its internal designation ZTF0DxQ,
At the time, 2020 QG passed closer to Earth than any known asteroid, except for those that became
Orbit and classification
2020 QG orbits the Sun at approximately 1.0–2.9
Before its perturbation, flying by Earth, the asteroid's orbit had an
In May 2020, before any perturbation, the asteroid had an Earth-MOID (Minimum orbit intersection distance) of 0.00027 AU (40,000 km; 25,000 mi).[4] Hours before the close approach the Earth-MOID was 0.0001 AU (15,000 km; 9,300 mi),[2] the close-approach perturbation (change to orbit) bringing it closer.
Parameter | Epoch | Period (p) |
aphelion (Q) |
perihelion (q) |
Semi-major axis (a) |
eccentricity (e) |
inclination (i) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Units | (days) | AU | (°) | ||||
Pre-flyby | 2020-May-31[4] | 990.6 | 2.893 | 0.9962 | 1.945 | 0.4877 | 5.473° |
Post-flyby | 2020-Dec-01[6] | 964.2 | 2.829 | 0.9908 | 1.910 | 0.4813 | 4.737° |
Detectability
Asteroids that are similar in size to 2020 QG are difficult to detect because they are small and therefore dim. Between 2010–2020, the asteroid was never brighter than about
Future approaches
2020 QG will make several close approaches with Earth in the future, albeit at larger distances compared to the August 2020 encounter. The next close approach by 2020 QG will be in May 2028, which it will pass by Earth from a nominal distance of 0.31 AU (120 LD).[4]
See also
Asteroid | Date | Distance from surface of Earth |
Uncertainty in approach distance |
Observation arc | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 VT4 | 2020-11-13 17:21 | 368 km | ±11 km | 5 days (34 obs) | data |
2020 QG | 2020-08-16 04:09 | 2939 km | ±11 km | 2 days (35 obs) | data |
2021 UA1 | 2021-10-25 03:07 | 3049 km | ±10 km | 1 day (22 obs) | data |
2023 BU | 2023-01-27 00:29 | 3589 km | ±<1 km | 10 days (231 obs) | data |
2011 CQ1 | 2011-02-04 19:39 | 5474 km | ±5 km | 1 day (35 obs) | data |
2019 UN13 | 2019-10-31 14:45 | 6235 km | ±189 km | 1 day (16 obs) | data |
2008 TS26 | 2008-10-09 03:30 | 6260 km | ±970 km | 1 day (19 obs) | data |
2004 FU162 | 2004-03-31 15:35 | 6535 km | ±13000 km | 1 day (4 obs) | data |
Notes
- ^ The Minor Planet Center's solution uses only 28 of the 35 observations.
- ^ The asteroid passed about 9317±20 km from the center of Earth and Earth has a radius of 6371 km. (9317 – 6371 = 2946)
- ^ Due to short arcs and the uncertainty in their approach distances asteroids such as 2004 FU162 and 2014 LY21 may have passed closer to Earth, but their nominal solutions did not.
- ^ Asteroids are generally discovered when they are around apparent magnitude 19–21 because that is when they are bright enough to be detected by automated astronomical surveys. The Catalina Sky Survey and ATLAS have a limiting magnitude of 19.5. The Zwicky Transient Facility has a limiting magnitude of 20.5 and Pan-STARRS has a limiting magnitude of 24.
References
- ^ a b c "2020 QG". Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Bolin, B.; Bhalerao, V.; Copperwheat, C.; Deshmukh, K.; Hsu, C.-Y.; Lin, Z.-Y.; Purdum, J.; Sharma, K.; et al. (17 August 2020). "MPEC 2020-Q51 : 2020 QG". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. Minor Planet Center. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "2020 QG". NEO Exchange. Las Cumbres Observatory. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2020 QG)" (2020-08-18 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ Clavin, Whitney (18 August 2020). "ZTF Finds Closest Known Asteroid to Fly By Earth". Caltech. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ JPL SBDBnumbers and "2020-Dec-01" with a step size of 6 months.)
- ^ "Ephemeris". Horizons.
- ^ "2020QG Ephemerides for 2010–2020". NEODyS (Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site). Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
External links
- 2020 QG at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 2020 QG at the JPL Small-Body Database
- ZTF Finds Closest Known Asteroid to Fly By Earth, Whitney Clavin, Caltech, 18 August 2020