2004 BX159

2004 BX159
Discovery
Discovered by Cerro Paranal (309)
Discovery date 2004-01-20
Designations
MPC designation 2004 BX159
Main-belt[1]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 2014-May-23 (JD 2456800.5)
(Uncertainty=0)[1]
Aphelion 2.9026 AU (Q)
Perihelion 2.1586 AU (q)
2.5306 AU (a)
Eccentricity 0.14699
4.03 yr
63.097° (M)
Inclination 4.0907°
159.76°
152.63°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions ~1.2 km[2]
19–22.6
16.8[1]

    2004 BX159 (also written 2004 BX159) is an object which was thought to be a Mars-crossing asteroid because of the poorly known orbit after discovery, and was therefore listed on the Sentry Risk Table as a possible impactor.[3] With an observation arc of 3 days, perihelion was determined to be 1.5 ± 3 AU.[4]

    Precovery observations in archival data of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea were identified in early 2014, resulting in a dramatic improvement of the orbital accuracy, sufficient to recognize the object as a regular main belt asteroid, not posing any danger to Earth.[1]

    The object was subsequently linked by the Minor Planet Center with additional observations reported since 1997, and it now has a well-established orbit with a 16-year observed arc.[1]

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2004 BX159)" (last observation: 2013-07-08; arc: 15.98 years). Retrieved 2014-04-01.
    2. ↑ "Asteroid 2004 BX159 Impact Risk". Wayback Machine: NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 2014-04-01 [computed on 2011-09-14]. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
    3. ↑ "WayBack Machine archive from 18 Feb 2007". Wayback Machine. 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
    4. ↑ JPL solution 3 archive is/3RvI

    External links