Asteroid 2017 DS109 to flyby Earth at 0.90 LD
Asteroid 2017 DS109 will flyby Earth at a distance of 0.90 LD (345 600 km / 214 745 miles) from the surface of our planet at 14:29 UTC on March 5, 2017.
This asteroid belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was first observed by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on February 27, 2017.
Asteroid 2017 DS109 has an estimated diameter between 12 and 39 m (39 – 127 feet) and will flyby us at a speed (relative to the Earth) of 11.38 km/s.
[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]
This is the 8th known asteroid to flyby Earth within 1 lunar distance this year (according to data available at CNEOS on September 20, 2017):
Asteroid 2017 EA – Distance: 0.05 LD – March 2
Asteroid 2017 DR34 – Distance: 0.57 LD – February 25
Asteroid 2017 DG16 – Distance: 0.34 LD – February 23
Asteroid 2017 BS32 – Distance: at 0.41 LD – February 2
Asteroid 2017 BH30 – Distance: 0.17 LD – January 30
Asteroid 2017 BX – Distance: 0.68 LD – January 25
Asteroid 2017 AG13 – Distance: 0.53 LD – January 9
As of March 4, 2017, we know for a total of 381 near-Earth objects that already flew past Earth within 1 lunar distance since 1910 or will over the next 172 years. This number is constantly growing as new objects get discovered.
In 2016, there were 52 such objects and the closest was 2016 DY30 on February 25. Its size is between 2.1 and 4.7 m (6.8 – 15.4 feet) and if flew past us at 0.04 LD (15 360 km / 9 544 miles). In 2015, there were 26 such objects.
References:
Asteroid 2017 DS109 at Minor Planet Center, CNEOS
Featured image: The green line indicates the object's apparent motion relative to the Earth, and the bright green marks are the object's location at approximately one hour intervals. The Moon's orbit is gray. The blue arrow points in the direction of Earth's motion and the yellow arrow points toward the Sun. Credit: Minor Planet Center. Edit: TW
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