2009 VA is an asteroid that came within 14,000 kilometres (8,700 mi) of Earth on 6 November 2009 making it the third closest non-impacting approach of a cataloged asteroid.[2]
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Catalina Sky Survey |
Discovery date | 6 November 2009 |
Designations | |
none | |
Apollo (NEO) | |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
Epoch 6 November 2009 (JD 2455141.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 8 | |
Aphelion | 1.9382 AU (289.95 Gm) |
Perihelion | 0.91768 AU (137.283 Gm) |
1.4280 AU (213.63 Gm) | |
Eccentricity | 0.35735 |
1.71 yr (623.26 d) | |
338.95° | |
0° 34m 39.396s /day | |
Inclination | 7.5411° |
224.54° | |
223.99° | |
Earth MOID | 0.000130811 AU (19,569.0 km) |
Jupiter MOID | 3.30322 AU (494.155 Gm) |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 7 m |
28.6 | |
With a diameter of only 7 metres (23 ft), scientists think that even if it had been on a direct collision course with Earth, it would have likely burned up in the atmosphere.[3] The space rock made its pass by Earth just fifteen hours after its discovery.[4]
The asteroid was first discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey at the University of Arizona. It was determined that the object would make a pass well within the orbit of the Moon, but would not strike Earth. The object passed so close to Earth that its orbit was modified by Earth's gravity.[4]