(612600) 2003 SM84

(612600) 2003 SM84
Discovery[1]
Discovered byLINEAR
Discovery siteLincoln Laboratory ETS
Discovery date20 September 2003
(first observed only)
Designations
2003 SM84
NEO · Amor[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 1
Observation arc12.21 yr (4,459 d)
Aphelion1.2176 AU
Perihelion1.0331 AU
1.1254 AU
Eccentricity0.0819
1.19 yr (436 d)
97.681°
0° 49m 32.16s / day
Inclination2.7956°
186.68°
87.374°
Earth MOID0.0516 AU
(20.1022 LD)
Physical characteristics
86 m (est. at 0.20)[3]
160 m (est. at 0.057)[3]
22.7[2]

(612600) 2003 SM84 is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Amor group orbiting between Earth and Mars. It was first observed by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) at the Lincoln Laboratory ETS on 20 September 2003.[1] As of 2020, this minor planet has neither been nor named.[1]

2003 SM84 is an Amor asteroid – a subgroup of near-Earth asteroids that approach the orbit of Earth from beyond, but do not cross it. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.0–1.2 AU once every 14 months (436 days; semi-major axis of 1.13 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.08 and an inclination of 3° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with its first observation by LINEAR in 2003.[1]

The object's spectral type remains unknown.[2] Using a magnitude-to-diameter conversion, 2003 SM84 measures 86 and 160 meters in diameter, based on an absolute magnitude of 22.7 and an assumed albedo of 0.20 (S-type) and 0.057 (C-type), respectively.[3] 2003 SM84 was being considered by the European Space Agency as a candidate target for the Don Quijote mission to study the effects of impacting a spacecraft into an asteroid.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "2003 SM84". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2003 SM84)" (2015-12-05 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  4. ^ Nerlich, Steve (13 August 2011). "Astronomy Without A Telescope – Impact Mitigation". www.universetoday. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
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