6344 P–L

6344 P-L (2007 RR9)
Orbital characteristics
4.7 years

    6344 P–L is a small Solar System body which was discovered in the year 1960 by asteroid searchers Tom Gehrels, Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld, and Cornelis Johannes van Houten. Last seen in 1960, it was thought to be missing but then later rediscovered in 2007 as 2007 RR9 (also written 2007 RR9).[1] In other words, it was a lost asteroid from 1960 until it was recovered and recognized as the same object by Peter Jenniskens in 2007.[2] P–L stands for Palomar–Leiden, for Palomar Observatory and Leiden Observatory.[2]

    It is either an asteroid or dormant comet nucleus, and it has a 4.7 year orbit around the Sun.[2] The orbit goes out as far as Jupiter's but then back in, passing as close as 0.07 AU to the Earth, making it a collision risk.[2]

    6344 P–L is a potentially hazardous object and probably a dormant comet, although it was not outgassing at the time of its recovery.[2]

    See also

    Palomar–Leiden survey

    References

    1. ↑ Long-lost 'Potentially Hazardous Asteroid' re-located (Asian News International)
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Long-Lost, Dangerous Asteroid Is Found Again – ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2007)