6Q0B44E
 Animation of 6Q0B44E's calculated orbit around Earth and the Moon from 2004-09 6Q0B44E·Earth·Moon | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by |
|
| Discovery date | 28 August 2006[1] |
| Designations | |
| XL8D89E? | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch2007 Jan 1.0 (JD2454101.5) | |
| Periapsis | 557,765 km (346,579 mi) (1.451LD,87.45ER) |
| Apoapsis | 862,590 km (535,990 mi) (2.244 LD, 135.24 ER) |
| 710,177 km (441,284 mi) (1.847 LD, 111.35 ER) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.214612 |
| 68.93 days | |
| 308.134° | |
| Inclination | 43.273° |
| 130.039° | |
| 2007/01/10 22:21:48 | |
| 140.596° | |
| Satellite of | Earth |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 30.2 | |
6Q0B44E,sometimes abbreviated toB44E,is a small object that was discovered orbitingEarthoutside the orbit of theMoonin August 2006. It was observed until March 2007, at which point it waslost.It is likely, though unproven, that the same object was re-discovered asXL8D89E,which was observed between 2015 and 2018.
The properties of 6Q0B44E indicate it is probably an artificial item ofspace debris,just a few metres across. Orbit calculations show it experiences non-gravitational accelerations (such as a slow gas leak) that gradually shift its position, making it difficult to track.
Discovery
[edit]6Q0B44E was first observed byCatalina Sky Surveyresearchers at theLunar and Planetary Laboratoryof theUniversity of Arizonaon 28 August 2006. The sighting was confirmed the next day by observations at theSiding Spring SurveyandTable Mountain Observatory.[1]
Observations
[edit]6Q0B44E was spotted at what was later calculated to be the brightest part of its orbit, at 19thmagnitude.As the object moved away from Earth, its brightness dropped on an approximately six-month cycle down to 28th magnitude, severely limiting study.[3]
The object was observed 56 times in the seven months after its discovery, but waslostin March 2007.[3]Another unidentified satellite of Earth, XL8D89E, was discovered in June 2016 on a similar - but not identical - orbit.[4]It is likely, though unproven, that both 6Q0B44E and XL8D89E are the same object, with the orbit shifted in the intervening decade by non-gravitational accelerations (such as slow escape of gas).[4][5]XL8D89E was observed regularly until May 2017, then again in November 2018, before being lost.[4]
Properties
[edit]The object is just a few metres across and was classified as probably artificial. 6Q0B44E (and XL8D89E) orbits Earth between 585,000 and 983,000 km, which is 2 to 3 times the distance of the Moon's orbit, over a period of 80 days.[6]Its density was estimated at around 15 kg/m3,too low for natural rock but similar to an empty fuel tank.[7]
Ephemeridescalculated from the observations suggest that 6Q0B44E probably entered the Earth–Moon system between 2001 and 2003, although it may have arrived up to a decade earlier. Similarities between the discoveries of 6Q0B44E andJ002E3,thought to be part of theApollo 12rocket, led some astronomers to speculate that 6Q0B44E may be another relic of human space exploration which has returned to Earth orbit. However, no space mission has been identified as the source of 6Q0B44E.[8]
See also
[edit]- 2006 RH120- An object making close approaches to the Earth–Moon system around every twenty years
- 3753 Cruithne– An asteroid in an Earthhorseshoe orbit
- 2002 AA29– Another asteroid in an Earth horseshoe orbit
- Natural satellite
References
[edit]- ^abWilliams, G. (29 August 2006)."DASO Circular No. 63".Distant Artificial-Satellites Observers’ Circulars. Harvard University.
- ^Gray, Bill."Pseudo-MPC for 6Q0B44E".Project Pluto.Retrieved13 September2019.
- ^abGray, Bill (3 September 2006)."Pseudo-MPEC for 6Q0B44E".Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2007.
- ^abc"Pseudo-MPEC for XL8D89E".Project Pluto.6 November 2018.Retrieved25 July2022.
This is probably the same object as 6Q0B44E
- ^Ortiz, Noelia Sánchez; Torres, Jaime Nomen; Cano, Juan L.; Micheli, Marco (2019). T. Flohrer; R. Jehn; F. Schmitz (eds.).Identification of SST community support to reduce false positives in the identification of NEO imminent impactors.1st NEO and Debris Detection Conference.ESASpace Safety Programme Office.
XL8D89E [...] has been seen multiple times since 2015, but it is likely identical to 6Q0B44E, an object in a very similar orbit seen more than a decade ago, in 2006-2007.
- ^"Spacewatch".The Guardian.6 September 2006.
- ^Micheli, Marco; Tholen, David J.; Elliott, Garrett T. (2012). "Detection of radiation pressure acting on 2009 BD".New Astronomy.17(4): 446–452.arXiv:1106.0564.Bibcode:2012NewA...17..446M.doi:10.1016/j.newast.2011.11.008.S2CID119185066.
- ^Azriel, Merryl (25 September 2013)."Rocket or Rock? NEO confusion abounds".Space Safety Magazine.Retrieved8 December2013.
6Q0B44E was first thought to be a meteor when it was spotted in 2006; it's now considered artificial but its originating spacecraft is not known.
External links
[edit]- The Distant Artificial Satellites Observation Page,accessed 2011-01-08
- Discovery of 6Q0B44E,byRichard Kowalski30 August 2006
