2015 YA is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Aten group, that is a temporary horseshoe companion to the Earth. It is the 11th known Earth horseshoe librator.[6] Prior to a close encounter with the Earth on 15 December 2015, 2015 YA was an Apollo asteroid.
2015 YA was discovered on 16 December 2015 by G. J. Leonard and R. G. Matheny observing
for the Catalina Sky Survey.[7] As of 9 March 2016, it has been observed 47 times with an observation arc of 5 days.[2]
Orbit and orbital evolution
[edit]Animation of 2015 YA's orbit relative to Sun and Earth 2015 YA· Sun· Earth
2015 YA is currently an Aten asteroid (Earth-crossing but with a period less than a year). Its semi-major axis (currently 0.99753 AU) is similar to that of Earth (1.00074 AU), but it has a moderate eccentricity (0.2791) and very low orbital inclination (1.6249°). It alternates between being an Aten asteroid and being an Apollo asteroid, although its orbital evolution is rather chaotic. As of 9 March 2016, this object is the 16th known Earth co-orbital and the 11th known object following a horseshoe path with respect to our planet. Asteroid 2015 YA follows an asymmetrical horseshoe path with respect to our planet; the value of its relative mean longitude oscillates about 180°, but enclosing 0°.[6]
Transient co-orbital asteroids Brasser, R., Innanen, K. A., Connors, M., Veillet, C., Wiegert, P., Mikkola, S., Chodas, P. W. 2004, Icarus, Vol. 171, Issue 1, pp. 102–109.
