2004 XP14
Encyclopedia
is a near-Earth asteroid
, first discovered on December 10, 2004, by the LINEAR
project.
Due to the proximity of its orbit to Earth and its estimated size, this object has been classified as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" (PHA) by the Minor Planet Center
in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Although initially there were concerns that it might possibly impact Earth
later in the 21st century and thus merit special monitoring, further analysis of its orbit has since ruled out any such collision, at least in the foreseeable future.
The size of is not precisely known. Based on optical measurements, the object is between 300 and 900 meters in diameter.
's closest pass by Earth was above the west coast of North America at 04:25 UTC on July 3, 2006.
The asteroid's distance from Earth's center of mass at that moment was 0.0028906 AU, or just 1.1 times the Moon
's average distance from Earth. It was observed immediately after this close approach by radar
from three locations, from Goldstone
in the Mojave Desert
in the USA, from Sicily
, and from Yevpatoria RT-70 radio telescope
, Ukraine
, as well as optically from other observatories and amateurs.
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
, first discovered on December 10, 2004, by the LINEAR
Linear
In mathematics, a linear map or function f is a function which satisfies the following two properties:* Additivity : f = f + f...
project.
Due to the proximity of its orbit to Earth and its estimated size, this object has been classified as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" (PHA) by the Minor Planet Center
Minor Planet Center
The Minor Planet Center operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory , which is part of the Center for Astrophysics along with the Harvard College Observatory ....
in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Although initially there were concerns that it might possibly impact Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
later in the 21st century and thus merit special monitoring, further analysis of its orbit has since ruled out any such collision, at least in the foreseeable future.
The size of is not precisely known. Based on optical measurements, the object is between 300 and 900 meters in diameter.
's closest pass by Earth was above the west coast of North America at 04:25 UTC on July 3, 2006.
The asteroid's distance from Earth's center of mass at that moment was 0.0028906 AU, or just 1.1 times the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
's average distance from Earth. It was observed immediately after this close approach by radar
Radar astronomy
Radar astronomy is a technique of observing nearby astronomical objects by reflecting microwaves off target objects and analyzing the echoes. This research has been conducted for six decades. Radar astronomy differs from radio astronomy in that the latter is a passive observation and the former an...
from three locations, from Goldstone
Deep Space Network
The Deep Space Network, or DSN, is a world-wide network of large antennas and communication facilities that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions. It also performs radio and radar astronomy observations for the exploration of the solar system and the universe, and supports selected...
in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
in the USA, from Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, and from Yevpatoria RT-70 radio telescope
Yevpatoria RT-70 radio telescope
The Yevpatoria RT-70 radio telescope is an RT-70 radio telescope and planetary radar at the Center for Deep Space Communications, Yevpatoria, Crimea, Ukraine. In the scientific literature is often called Evpatoria planetary radar .With its 70m antenna diameter, it is among the largest single dish...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, as well as optically from other observatories and amateurs.
External links
- NASA's Asteroid Radar Group
- Orbital elements for 2004 XP14 from JPL
- Asteroid may pose danger to Earth
- Close pass by space rock
- Sormano Astronomical Observatory: Minor Body Priority List
- [ftp://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/elgb/moid.html Minimum Orbital Intersection Distance]
- Closest Approaches to the Earth by Minor Planets