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2005 YU552005 YU55, also written as
2005 YU55, is a potentially hazardous asteroid[2] that is 400 meters in diameter.[3][4] It was discovered on 28 December 2005 by Robert S. McMillan at Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak.[1] On November 8 2011 it will pass within 0.85 lunar distances (about 201,700 miles)[5] of the Earth. This is the closest known approach by an asteroid with an absolute magnitude this bright since 2010 XC15 (H = 21.4) approached within 0.5 lunar distances in 1976.[6]
Impact risk assessmentIn February 2010 it was rated 1 on the Torino Scale, indicating that a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger. On 19 April 2010, highly accurate radar targeting by the Arecibo radio telescope reduced uncertainties about the orbit by 50 percent.[4] This improvement eliminated any possibility of an impact with the Earth for the next 100 years.[4] It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 22 April 2010 and as such it now has a rating of 0 on the Torino Scale.[7]
On 8 November 2011 at 23:28 UT, the asteroid will safely pass within 0.85 lunar distances of the Earth.[3] A lunar distance of 0.85 is also 0.00217 AU (325,000 km; 202,000 mi).[3] On 9 November 2011 at 07:13 UT, the asteroid will pass 0.00160 AU (239,000 km; 149,000 mi) from the moon.[3] During the close approach, the asteroid should reach about apparent magnitude 11,[3][8] and may be visible to expert observers using high-end binoculars with an objective lens of 80mm or larger. Since the gibbous moon will interfere with the viewing,[6] amateur observers trying to visually locate the asteroid will require a telescope with an aperture of 6 inches (15 centimeters) or larger.[6][5]
The next time a known asteroid this large will come this close to Earth will be in 2028[6] when (153814) 2001 WN5 passes 0.00166 AU (248,000 km; 154,000 mi) from the Earth.[9]
Future trajectoryOn 19 January 2029, 2005 YU55 will pass about 0.0019 AU (280,000 km; 180,000 mi) from Venus.[10] The close approach to Venus in 2029 will determine how close the asteroid will pass the Earth in 2041.[6] The uncertainties in the post-2029 trajectory will cause the asteroid to pass anywhere from 0.002 AU (300,000 km; 190,000 mi) and 0.3 AU from the Earth in 2041.[6] Radar astrometry in November 2011 should clarify the Earth encounter situation in 2041 and beyond.[6]
References
^ a b "MPEC 2005-Y47 : 2005 YU55". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2005-12-29. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
^ a b c d e "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2005 YU55)". 2010-04-21 last obs. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
^ a b c d e f g h Don Yeomans, Lance Benner and Jon Giorgini (March 10, 2011). "Asteroid 2005 YU55 to Approach Earth on November 8, 2011". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
^ a b c d Blaine Friedlander Jr. (April 30, 2010). "Arecibo telescope tracks 'potentially dangerous' asteroid within 1.5 million miles of Earth". Cornell Chronicle @ Cornell University. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
^ a b "NASA in Final Preparations for Nov. 8 Asteroid Flyby". NASA/JPL. October 26, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
^ a b c d e f g Dr. Lance A. M. Benner (2011 Oct 29). "2005 YU55 Goldstone Radar Observations Planning". NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
^ "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
^ "2005YU55 Ephemerides for 9 Nov 2011". NEODyS (Near Earth Objects - Dynamic Site). Retrieved 2011-05-05.
^ "JPL Close-Approach Data: 153814 (2001 WN5)". 2011-01-04 last obs (arc=14.9 years). Retrieved 2011-10-16.
^ "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2005 YU55)". 2010-04-21 last obs. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YU55
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