2018 GE3

2018 GE3
The orbit of 2018 GE3 with 30-day markers
Discovery [1]
Discovered byCatalina Sky Srvy.
Discovery siteCatalina Stn.
Discovery date14 April 2018
(first observed only)
Designations
2018 GE3
NEO · Apollo[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 7
Observation arc4 days
Aphelion3.3782 AU
Perihelion0.3179 AU
1.8481 AU
Eccentricity0.8280
2.51 yr (918 d)
333.94°
0° 23m 32.28s / day
Inclination8.7368°
25.412°
300.17°
Earth MOID0.0010 AU (0.3896 LD)
Mercury MOID0.0101 AU
Venus MOID0.0556 AU
Mars MOID0.0527 AU
Physical characteristics
48–110 m[3]
48 m (est. at 0.24)[4]
100 m (est. at 0.05)[4]
23.813[2]

2018 GE3 is a sub-kilometer asteroid on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 48–110 meters (160–360 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 14 April 2018, by astronomers with the Catalina Sky Survey one day prior to its sub-lunar close encounter with Earth at 0.5 lunar distance.[2] It is one of the largest known asteroids (possibly the largest) in observational history to ever pass that close to Earth (also see list).

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MPC-object was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference EarthSky was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference h was invoked but never defined (see the help page).