2019 LF6 is a near-Earth object of the Atira group. After 2021 PH27, it has the second-smallest semi-major axis among the known asteroids (0.555 AU), beating the previously-held record of 2019 AQ3.[3][4] It orbits the Sun in 151 days.[2]
Discovery [1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Zwicky Transient Facility |
Discovery site | Palomar Obs. |
Discovery date | 10 June 2019 (first observed only) |
Designations | |
2019 LF6 | |
NEO · Atira [1] | |
Orbital characteristics [2] | |
Epoch 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 3 | |
Observation arc | 358 days |
Aphelion | 0.7938 AU |
Perihelion | 0.3170 AU |
0.5554 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.42928 |
0.41 yr (151.2 d) | |
347.653° | |
2° 22m 51.74s / day | |
Inclination | 29.506° |
179.029° | |
213.779° | |
Earth MOID | 0.2608 AU |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 1–2 km (est. at 0.05–0.15) |
17.200±0.398[2] | |
Discovered at only 19th magnitude, it is very difficult to see, never getting far from the sun and twilight.[5] It only occasionally brightens above 16th magnitude. Discovery was made using the Zwicky Transient Facility.[6]
It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.3–0.8 AU once every 5 months (151 days; semi-major axis of 0.56 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.43 and an unusually high[6] inclination of 30° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]
The asteroids 594913 ꞌAylóꞌchaxnim and 2019 AQ3 are the only known asteroids with closer aphelions. The orbital evolution of 2019 AQ3 is similar to that of 2019 LF6.[7]