2006 RH120

2006 RH120
Discovery[1]
Discovered byCatalina Sky Survey (Eric Christensen)
Discovery date14 September 2006
Designations
2006 RH120
Orbital characteristics[5]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 1
Observation arc281 days
Aphelion1.058 AU (158.3 Gm) (Q)
Perihelion1.0078 AU (150.76 Gm) (q)
1.0331 AU (154.55 Gm) (a)
Eccentricity0.02452 (e)
(Geocentric hyperbolic e=2500000)[6]
1.05 yr
313.7° (M)
Inclination0.59486° (i)
51.18° (Ω)
~2028-Nov-11
10.060° (ω)
Earth MOID0.01682 AU (2,516,000 km)
Jupiter MOID3.93 AU (588 Gm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions~2–3 m[7]
0.1 ?[clarification needed]
30+ (until 2027)
29.5[9]

2006 RH120 is a tiny near-Earth asteroid[9] and fast rotator with a diameter of approximately 2–3 meters[7] that ordinarily orbits the Sun but makes close approaches to the Earth–Moon system around every twenty years,[10] when it can temporarily enter Earth orbit through temporary satellite capture (TSC). Most recently, it was in Earth orbit from July 2006 to July 2007,[11] during which time it was never more than 0.0116 AU (1.74 million km) from Earth.[12] As a consequence of its temporary orbit around the Earth, it is currently the second smallest asteroid in the Solar System with a well-known orbit, after 2021 GM1. Until given a minor planet designation on 18 February 2008,[1] the object was known as 6R10DB9, an internal identification number assigned by the Catalina Sky Survey.[8]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MPEC2008-D12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ WayBack: MPC Epoch 2013 = Amor
  3. ^ archive.ph: JPL Epoch 2012 = Apollo
  4. ^ archive.ph: Epoch Jan 2007 = Aten with a=0.99au
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference mpc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference geocentric was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Barbee2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Great Shefford Observatory. "2006 RH120 ( = 6R10DB9) – A second moon for the Earth?". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pseudo-MPEC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kwiatkowski2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Horizons2006-2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).