3360 Syrinx

(3360) Syrinx
Discovery
Discovered byEleanor F. Helin
R. Scott Dunbar
Discovery date4 November 1981
Designations
(3360) Syrinx
Pronunciation/ˈsɪrɪŋks/[1]
Named after
Syrinx
1981 VA
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc12556 days (34.38 yr)
Aphelion4.30603 AU (644.173 Gm)
Perihelion0.62791 AU (93.934 Gm)
2.46697 AU (369.053 Gm)
Eccentricity0.74547
3.87 yr (1415.3 d)
315.35°
0° 15m 15.732s / day
Inclination21.154°
242.561°
63.457°
Earth MOID0.107877 AU (16.1382 Gm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions1.8 km
0.9 km
0.17
15.9

3360 Syrinx (originally designated 1981 VA) is an Apollo and Mars crosser asteroid discovered in 1981. It approaches Earth to within 40 Gm three times in the 21st century: 33 Gm in 2039, 40 Gm in 2070, and 24 Gm in 2085.

On 20 September 2012, it closely encountered Earth at a distance of 0.4192 AU (62,710,000 km; 38,970,000 mi),[2] peaking in brightness at an apparent magnitude of 17.0.[3] In opposition on 23 November 2012, it brightened to magnitude 16.0.[3]

It is a member of the Alinda group of asteroids with a 3:1 resonance with Jupiter that has excited the eccentricity of the orbit over the eons.[4] As an Alinda asteroid it makes approaches to Jupiter, Earth, and Venus.[2]

For a time, it was the lowest numbered asteroid that had not been named. In November 2006, this distinction passed to 3708 Socus, and in May 2021 to (4596) 1981 QB.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "syrinx". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference jpl-close was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NEODys2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lewis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).