// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did 2017 DB120 say to its date? You're out of orbit.
| Discovery[1][2] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Pan-STARRS |
| Discovery site | Haleakala Obs. |
| Discovery date | 25 February 2017 (first observation only) |
| Designations | |
| NEO–Amor[1][2] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 26 February 2017 (JD 2457810.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 9[2] · E[1] | |
| Observation arc | 2.4 days[3] |
| Aphelion | 3.34±0.99 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.07±0.23 AU |
| 2.20±0.65 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.52±0.25 |
| 3.3±1.5 years | |
| 339°±9° | |
| 0° 18m 3.6s / day | |
| Inclination | 4.1°±1.4° |
| 193°±15° | |
| 31°±33° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0697 AU (27 LD) |
| Physical characteristics | |
2017 DB120 is a near-Earth object, meaning that it has an orbit which brings it into proximity with Earth. It is an Amor asteroid, meaning that its orbit does not cross Earth's orbit, but its perihelion is close to, but greater than, the aphelion of Earth. It was first observed on February 25, 2017, when the asteroid was less than 1 AU from Earth[1] and had a solar elongation of 169°.[5]
This asteroid is a lost asteroid.[6] It has a short observation arc of 2.4 days and has not been seen since 2017, so it has an orbit that is only roughly calculated. Also, there are variations in the absolute magnitude cataloged by various organizations, leading to variations in the estimated size of the asteroid (Sentry list H 23.0 implies 86 m[3] vs MPC H 22.3 implies 120 m[1]). These variations are in addition to the uncertainty in the size estimate caused by the uncertainty in the albedo.[7]
This asteroid was in both the Risk List[4] of the European Space Agency (ESA) - Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and in the Sentry List[8] of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) – Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). According to the Sentry List, of the possible close encounters with Earth in the foreseeable future, an encounter on 26 March 2061 had the highest Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale value.[3] This object was removed from the Sentry List on 29 July 2021.[9]
According to the Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site (NEODyS), of the possible close encounters with Earth in the foreseeable future, the next encounter is on 25 April 2031.[10] This encounter has a minimum possible distance of zero, meaning that an impact onto Earth is possible.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2017 DB120". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2017 DB120)" (2017-02-27 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring - Object Details 2017 DB120". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- 1 2 3 "ESA space situational awareness 2017DB120". European Space Agency. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ↑ "JPL HORIZONS Web-Interface (2017 DB120)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ↑ "NEODyS-2 Risk List". SpaceDys. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ↑ "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ↑ "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring - Impact Risk Data". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ↑ "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring – Removed Objects". CNEOS – Center for Near Earth Object Studies. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ "NEODyS-2 - Near Earth Objects - Dynamic Site - 2017DB120 - Close Approaches". SpaceDys. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
External links
[edit]- 2017 DB120 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 2017 DB120 at ESA–space situational awareness
- 2017 DB120 at the JPL Small-Body Database
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