2019 BZ3

2019 BZ3 is a very small near-Earth asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 6 meters (20 feet) in diameter. It was first observed by the Mount Lemmon Survey on 28 January 2019, just hours after the asteroid's sub-lunar flyby of Earth at less than 0.12 lunar distance.[1][4]

2019 BZ3
Orbit of 2019 BZ3, before and after 2019 flyby with 30 day motion
Discovery [1]
Discovered byMLS
Discovery siteMount Lemmon Obs.
Discovery date28 January 2019
(first observed only)
Designations
2019 BZ3
NEO · Apollo [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 7[2] · 5[1]
Observation arc8 days
Aphelion3.6251 AU
Perihelion0.9591 AU
2.2921 AU
Eccentricity0.5815
3.47 yr (1,268 d)
30.064°
0° 17m 2.4s / day
Inclination10.631°
127.44°
338.22°
Earth MOID0.0004575 AU (0.18 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
6 m (est. at 0.15)[3]
17.9 (brightest)[1]
28.8[1]
28.719[2]

    Orbit and classification
    Path across sky, 30 minute motion
    Hourly motion moon's orbit

    2019 BZ3 is an Apollo asteroid, the largest subgroup of near-Earth objects. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.96–3.6 AU once every 3 years and 6 months (1,268 days; semi-major axis of 2.29 AU). Its orbit has a high eccentricity of 0.58 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body still has a high orbital uncertainty of 5 and 7, respectively.[1][2] Its observation arc of only 8 days begins with its official first observation at Mount Lemmon Observatory on 28 January 2019.[1]

    Close approaches

    2019 BZ3 has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.000457 AU (68,000 km), which corresponds to 0.18 lunar distances (LD).[2] Due to its very small size, however, 2019 BZ3 is not a potentially hazardous asteroid, which are required to be approximately 140 meters (460 ft) in diameter, that is, to be brighter than an absolute magnitude of 22.

    Flybys

    On 27 January 2019 at UTC 23:29, 2019 BZ3 passed Earth at a nominal distance of 48,130 km (0.125 LD) with a relative velocity of 11.37 km. Six hours later, it flew by the Moon at 350400 km.[2][4] The object's next close approaches will occur on 17 December 2025 at a much greater distance of 56 LD (0.143 AU), and on 29 January 2085 at 5.5 LD (0.0142 AU).[5]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet has not yet been numbered by the Minor Planet Center and remains unnamed.[1]

    Physical characteristics

    2019 BZ3 has an undetermined spectral type. Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, the asteroid measures approximately 6 meter in diameter for an assumed albedo of 0.15 and absolute magnitude 28.8.[3] The estimated diameter may vary between 5 and 10 meters depending on whether an albedo for a dark carbonaceous (0.05) or a bright stony (0.25) asteroid is assumed.[3]

    See also

    References
    1. "2019 BZ3". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2019 BZ3)" (2019-02-05 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
    3. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
    4. Blašković, Teo (29 January 2019). "Asteroid 2019 BZ3 flew past Earth at 0.13 lunar distances". Watchers.news. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
    5. "Asteroid 2019 BZ3 – Close approaches". AstDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
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