2004 FU162

2004 FU162 is an Aten near-Earth asteroid less than 20 meters in diameter crudely estimated to have passed roughly 6500 km above the surface of Earth[lower-alpha 2] on 31 March 2004.

2004 FU162
Designations
2004 FU162
Aten · NEO [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 5 April 2004 (JD 2453100.5)
Uncertainty parameter 9
Observation arc44 minutes[2][lower-alpha 1]
(only 4 observations)
Aphelion1.1511 AU
Perihelion0.5026 AU
0.8269 AU
Eccentricity0.3922
0.75 yr (275 days)
262.67°
1° 18m 39.24s / day
Inclination4.1647°
191.25°
139.78°
Earth MOID0.0001 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions4–12 meters (estimated)
28.7[1]

    It was only observed for 44 minutes on 31 March 2004,[lower-alpha 1] by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) team at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site in Socorro, New Mexico, and remains a lost asteroid.[2] The estimated 4 to 6 meter sized body made one of the closest known approaches to Earth.

    Description

    On 31 March 2004, around 15:35 UTC, the asteroid is crudely estimated to have passed within approximately 1 Earth radius (R⊕) or 6,400 kilometers of the surface of the Earth (or 2.02 R⊕ from Earth's center). But due to the very short observation arc, the uncertainty in the close approach distance is a large ±15000 km. By comparison, geostationary satellites orbit at 5.6 R⊕ and GPS satellites orbit at 3.17 R⊕ from the center of the Earth.

    As of 2008 this was the third or fourth closest approach. The first observation of 2004 FU162 was not announced until 22 August 2004.

    It was only observed four times in the space of 44 minutes and could not be followed up. Nevertheless, "the orbit is quite determinate and, given the exceptional nature of this close approach, the object is now receiving a designation".[3] No precovery images have been found.

    2004 FU162 is estimated to be approximately 6 meters in diameter. This means that it would burn up from atmospheric friction before striking the ground in the case of an Earth impact.

    On 26 March 2010, it may have come within 0.0825 AU (12.3 million km) of Earth,[4] but with an uncertainty parameter of 9,[1] the orbit is poorly determined.

    Another, larger near-Earth asteroid, 2004 FH passed just two weeks prior to 2004 FU162.

    A closer non-impacting approach to Earth was not known until 2008 TS26 on 9 October 2008.

    See also
    Closest non-impacting asteroids to Earth, except Earth-grazing fireballs
    Asteroid Date Distance from
    surface of Earth    		 Uncertainty in
    approach distance    		 Reference
    2020 VT42020-11-13374 km±25 kmdata
    2020 QG2020-08-162946 km±20 kmdata
    2011 CQ12011-02-045481 km±5 kmdata
    2019 UN132019-10-316242 km±200 kmdata
    2008 TS262008-10-096259 km±1000 kmdata
    2004 FU1622004-03-316542 km±15000 kmdata

    Notes
    1. Observation arc: (31.30799 – 31.27744) * 24 hours * 60 minutes = 43.99 minutes
    2. The asteroid passed about 12913±15000 km from the center of Earth and Earth has a radius of 6371 km.

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2004 FU162)" (last observation: 2004-03-31; arc: 1 day; uncertainty: 9). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
    2. "2004 FU162". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
    3. "Closest by far". hohmanntransfer. 22 August 2004. Retrieved 25 August 2004.
    4. Yeomans, Donald K. "Horizon Online Ephemeris System". California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 25 January 2008.

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