2019 SU3 is a very small near-Earth asteroid of the Apollo group, first observed by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System at Haleakala Observatory on 23 September 2019. It was briefly listed on the Risk List of the European Space Agency. With a 18-day observation arc, the nominal orbit passes 0.02 AU (3,000,000 km; 1,900,000 mi) from Earth on 27 September 2084.[2] It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 12 October 2019.

2019 SU3
Discovery [1][2]
Discovered byATLAS-HKO
Discovery siteHaleakala Obs.
Discovery date23 September 2019
(first observed only)
Designations
2019 SU3
NEO · Apollo[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2[2] · 3[1]
Observation arc28 days
Aphelion1.1948 AU
Perihelion0.9922 AU
1.0935 AU
Eccentricity0.0927
1.14 yr (418 d)
257.62°
0° 51m 42.84s / day
Inclination1.1621°
5.1182°
322.69°
Earth MOID0.0022 AU (0.86 LD)
Physical characteristics
15 m[3][4]
27.2[1]
27.28[2]

Based on calculations with a shorter observation arc, the asteroid could have passed very close to Earth, about 9,700 km (6,000 mi), in mid-September, 2084.[3][5][6][7] According to astronomers, "Its small size of about 15 m (49 ft) would result in limited consequences even in case of impact."[3]

Trajectory

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2019 SU3 asteroid trajectory – as/of 12 October 2019
(Asteroid orbit is in white; Earth orbit is in blue)[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "2019 SU3". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2019 SU3)" (2019-10-21 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)()
  3. ^ a b c Mack, Eric (11 October 2019). "Newly spotted asteroid could one day hit Earth, but don't panic - It's on a list of the riskiest space objects spotted so far, but how much should we really worry?". CNET. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  4. ^ Wackback Machine Archive for 2019 SU3 on the esa Risk List
  5. ^ Wehner, Mike (12 October 2019). "Newly-discovered asteroid could strike Earth within decades". MSN News. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  6. ^ Carpineti, Alfredo (10 October 2019). "Newly Discovered Asteroid Is At Slight Risk Of Hitting Earth In 2084". IFLScience. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  7. ^ Wackback Machine Archive for 2019 SU3 close approaches
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