| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Spacewatch |
| Discovery site | Kitt Peak National Obs. |
| Discovery date | 20 September 2006 |
| Designations | |
| (292220) 2006 SU49 | |
| |
|
| |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 14.95 yr (5,462 days) |
| Aphelion | 1.8533 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.9718 AU |
| 1.4125 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.3121 |
| 1.68 yr (613 days) | |
| 67.239° | |
| 0° 35m 13.56s / day | |
| Inclination | 2.5187° |
| 303.14° | |
| 198.98° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0008 AU (0.3 LD) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 0.377 km(estimate)[3] | |
| Mass | 7.3×1010 kg (estimate)[3] |
| 19.5[1] | |
(292220) 2006 SU49, provisional designation 2006 SU49, is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group that had a small chance of impacting Earth in 2029.[2][3]
It was discovered on 20 September 2006, by the Spacewatch project at the University of Arizona using the dedicated 0.9-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. The asteroid was calculated to measure 377 meters in diameter with a mass of 7.3×1010 kg.[3]
2006 SU49 had a 1 in 42,000 chance of impacting Earth on 22 January 2029. By 29 October 2006, it was listed with a Torino Scale impact risk value of 0. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 23 November 2006.[4] It is now known that on 28 January 2029, the asteroid will be 0.00818 AU (1,224,000 km; 760,000 mi) from Earth.[1]
It is a near-Earth asteroid that received minor attention in late September and early October 2006 because initial observations indicated a higher than usual probability that it would strike the Earth in 2029. However, the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) removed 2006 SU49 from its risk list as additional observations provided improved predictions that eliminated the possibility of an impact on Earth or the Moon through 2106. Similarly, NEODyS estimates show a zero impact probability through 2080.
2006 SU49 briefly led the Earth-impact hazard list from 27 September 2006 through 4 October 2006, temporarily displacing (144898) 2004 VD17 from the number one position. At the time, both held a Torino scale of level 1 and were the only asteroids to hold a Torino value greater than 0.
Even though 2006 SU49 has an Earth MOID of 0.0003 AU (45,000 km; 28,000 mi), the orbit and future close approaches are well determined with an orbital uncertainty of 0.[1] It is also an Earth-crosser and Mars-crosser asteroid.
