2014 UR₁₁₆

2014 UR₁₁₆, also known as 2008 XB, is an eccentric sub-kilometer asteroid, categorized as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group with a diameter of approximately 400 meters (1,300 ft).[3] It was first observed on 1 December 2008, by the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, United States.[2]

2014 UR₁₁₆

Discovery [1][2]
Discovered by	Mount Lemmon Srvy.
Discovery site	Mount Lemmon Obs.
Discovery date	1 December 2008
Designations
MPC designation	2014 UR116
Alternative designations	2014 UR116 · 2008 XB
Minor planet category	Apollo · NEO · PHA [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	8.23 yr (3,005 days)
Aphelion	3.5757 AU
Perihelion	0.5648 AU
Semi-major axis	2.0703 AU
Eccentricity	0.7272
Orbital period	2.98 yr (1,088 days)
Mean anomaly	2.0212°
Mean motion	0° 19^m 51.24^s / day
Inclination	6.5740°
Longitude of ascending node	6.0028°
Argument of perihelion	286.79°
Earth MOID	0.0290 AU · 11.3 LD
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	0.4 km[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	19.7[1]

Orbit

2014 UR₁₁₆ orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.6–3.6 AU once every 3 years (1,088 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.73 and an inclination of 7° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

Close approaches

The asteroid has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0290 AU (4,340,000 km) which translates into 11.3 lunar distances.[1] On 21 October 2014, it passed 0.0854 AU (12,780,000 km; 7,940,000 mi) from Earth.[4] On 10 April 2047, the asteroid will safely pass 0.0296 AU (4,430,000 km; 2,750,000 mi) from Earth.[4]

Although some inaccurate press reports have suggested that it may pose an impact risk to Earth, the NASA/JPL Near Earth Object Program Office reported that it poses no risk of impact to any planet for at least 150 years.[3][5] Between 1904 and 2174, the closest approach it makes to any planet was on 9 June 2008 when it passed 0.0144 AU (2,150,000 km; 1,340,000 mi) from Mars. The asteroid has never been listed on the Sentry Risk Table and has a well determined orbit with an observation arc of 6 years.[4]

Discovery

The asteroid was first detected on 1 December 2008 by the Mount Lemmon Survey and received the provisional designation 2008 XB.[2] However, at an apparent magnitude of 20 and an assumed orbital eccentricity of 0.3, the object had a very short observation arc of less than 2 hours and the body became a lost minor planet.[6] It was only recovered as 2014 UR₁₁₆ on 27 October 2014, by observers at the MASTER-II Observatory (C41) at Pulkovo Observatory in Kislovodsk, Russia.[4]

See also

• 2014 OO6, one of the most dangerous asteroids discovered in 2014 that is on the Sentry Risk Table

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2014 UR116)" (2017-02-22 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
2. "2014 UR116". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
3. Yeomans, Don; Baalke, Ron (8 December 2014). "Asteroid 2014 UR116, A 400-meter Sized Near-Earth Asteroid, Represents No Threat to the Earth". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015.
4. "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2014 UR116)" (last observation: 11 December 2014; arc: 6 years). Retrieved 10 December 2014.
5. "NASA Says Asteroid 2014 UR116 Is Nothing to Be Afraid Of". NBC News. 9 December 2014.
6. "MPEC 2008-X16 : 2008 XB". IAU Minor Planet Center. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2014. (K08X00B)

External links

• 2014 UR116 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters