| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Richard A. Kowalski (Mount Lemmon Survey) |
| Discovery date | 10 March 2011 |
| Designations | |
| 2011 EO40 | |
| Orbital characteristics[3][5] | |
| Epoch 9 August 2022 (JD 2459800.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 6 | |
| Aphelion | 2.5467 AU (380.98 Gm) |
| Perihelion | 0.76039 AU (113.753 Gm) |
| 1.65356 AU (247.369 Gm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.54015 |
| 2.1264 yr (776.66 d) | |
| 169.9° | |
| 0° 27m 47.736s / day | |
| Inclination | 3.3591° |
| 50.249° | |
| 17.154° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0482051 AU (7.21138 Gm) |
| Jupiter MOID | 2.79322 AU (417.860 Gm) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 150–330 m[a][6] |
| 21.5[3] | |
2011 EO40 is anasteroid, classified as anear-Earth object and apotentially hazardous asteroid of theApollo group. It is a possible candidate for theparent body of theChelyabinsk superbolide.[7][8][9]
2011 EO40 was discovered byRichard A. Kowalski on 10 March 2011 while observing for theMount Lemmon Survey.[1][10]
Its orbit is typical of Apollo asteroids and is characterized by significant eccentricity (0.54), low inclination (3.36º), and a semi-major axis of 1.65 AU.[10] Upon discovery, it was classified as anEarth crosser, anear-Earth asteroid (NEA) and apotentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) by theMinor Planet Center. It was listed on theSentry Risk Table for less than one day.[11] Its orbit is in need of additional observations to determine if it is part of anasteroid family; as of October 2015 the orbit is determined using just twenty observations spanning anobservation arc of 34 days.[3]2011 EO40 has an absolute magnitude of 21.5,[3] which gives a characteristic diameter of about 200 metres (660 ft).[6]
Recent calculations indicate that this object is a plausible candidate to be the parent body of theChelyabinsk superbolide, since its orbit is very similar to the computed, pre-impact path of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid.[7][8][9] It has relatively frequent close encounters withVenus, theEarth–Moon system, andMars. It had a close encounter with Earth on 28 January 2011 at 0.0953 AU (14,260,000 km; 8,860,000 mi),[3] and it will have anominal Earth approach on 23 September 2025 at about 0.06 AU (9,000,000 km; 5,600,000 mi).[3] Asteroid2011 EO40 experiences close approaches to the Earth–Moon system following a rather regular pattern, every 17 years approximately due to the combined action of multiplesecular resonances.[8]
Future opposition windows are: 7 June 2016 atmagnitude 24.5, and 28 May 2018 atmagnitude 24.6. The best observation window will be on 2–23 September 2025.[3] Depending on the Earth approach distance (0.04–0.12 AU),[3] it should be brighter thanmagnitude 19.[12]
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