(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
- ^ a b c d e "2003 SM84". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ Nerlich, Steve (13 August 2011). "Astronomy Without A Telescope – Impact Mitigation". www.universetoday. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
External links
- ESA Don Quijote mission
- (612600) 2003 SM84 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- (612600) 2003 SM84 at the JPL Small-Body Database
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