2004 FU162

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Template:Downsize Template:Mp (also written 2004 FU162) is a meteoroid which passed within about one Earth radius of the surface of the Earth at 15:35 UTC on March 31 2004, or 2.02 Earth radii from the centre of the Earth. This set a record for the closest known approach to date. The discovery was not announced until August 22, 2004.

By comparison, geostationary satellites orbit at 5.6 Earth radii and GPS satellites orbit at 3.17 Earth radii from the centre of the Earth.

It was only observed four times in the space of 44 minutes and could not be followed up, and no pre-discovery images have been found. Nevertheless, its calculated orbit is considered "quite determinate". The diameter is estimated to be about six metres, which means it would have burned up before striking the ground in the case of an impact.

An object must be at least 50 m across before it can be classified as an asteroid.

See also

• Record-setting close approaches by asteroids to Earth

References

• MPEC 2004-Q22
• http://www.HohmannTransfer.com/mn/0408/22.htm
• http://www.HohmannTransfer.com/mn/0408/24.htm

The minor planetsedit

Vulcanoids | Near-Earth asteroids | Main belt | Jupiter Trojans | Centaurs | Damocloids | Comets | Trans-Neptunians (Kuiper belt · Scattered disc · Oort cloud)

For other objects and regions, see: asteroid groups and families, binary asteroids, asteroid moons and the Solar system For a complete listing, see: List of asteroids. See also Pronunciation of asteroid names and Meanings of asteroid names.

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