2010 KQ
2010 KQis a smallasteroid-like object that has been discovered in an orbit about the Sun that is so similar to the Earth's orbit that scientists strongly suspect it to be arocket stagethat escaped years ago from the Earth–Moon system.[1]The object was discovered on May 16, 2010 by Richard Kowalski at theCatalina Sky Survey,and has subsequently been observed by many observers, including Bill Ryan (Magdalena Ridge Observatory) and Peter Birtwhistle (England). It was given the asteroid designation 2010 KQ by theMinor Planet CenterinCambridge, Massachusetts,who identified its orbit as being very similar to that of the Earth.
Orbit refinements byJPL's Paul Chodas and amateur astronomer Bill Gray have shown that this object was very close to the Earth in early 1975, but the trajectory is not known with enough accuracy to associate the object with any particular launch. Nevertheless, scientists do not expect that a natural object could remain in this type of orbit for very long because of its relatively high impact probability with the Earth. In fact, an analysis carried out by Paul Chodas suggests that 2010 KQ has a 6% chance of impacting the Earth over a 30-year period starting in 2036.
Near-infrared spectral measurements of this object carried out by S.J. Bus (University of Hawaii) using theNASA IRTF telescopeonMauna Kea,Hawaii, indicate that its spectral characteristics do not match those of any of the known asteroid types, and in fact are similar to those of a rocket body. The object'sabsolute magnitude(28.9) also suggests that it is only a few meters in size, about the size of anupper stage.Additional observations over the coming months should allow scientists to discern how strongly solar radiation pressure affects the object's motion, a result that could help distinguish a solid, rocky asteroid from a lighter man-made object.
Astronomer Richard Miles believes 2010 KQ may be the 4th stage of theRussian Proton rocketfrom theLuna 23mission, launched October 28, 1974.[2]
Even in the unlikely event that this object is headed for impact with the Earth, whether it is an asteroid or rocket body, it is so small that it would disintegrate in the atmosphere and not cause harm on the ground.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Don Yeomans; Paul Chodas & Steve Chesley (May 27, 2010)."Asteroid 2010 KQ: Probably a Rocket Body".NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Archived fromthe originalon 30 May 2010.Retrieved2010-05-28.
- ^Man-made object spotted with FTNArchived2012-06-30 atarchive.today,Edward Gomez, May 26, 2010
- This article contains text from a NASA press release, which is in the public domain as a work of the U.S. federal government
External links
[edit]- "NASA: Object that hurtled past Earth was space junk, not asteroid".The Christian Science Monitor.Archivedfrom the original on 30 May 2010.Retrieved2010-05-28.
- Lewis Page (2010-05-28)."Approaching space object 'artificial, not asteroid' says NASA".The Register.Archivedfrom the original on 29 May 2010.Retrieved2010-05-28.
- The unusual case of 'asteroid' 2010 KQ: a newly discovered artificial object orbiting the Sun- R. Miles (2010)