(434326) 2004 JG₆

(434326) 2004 JG₆, provisional designation 2004 JG₆ is an eccentric, sub-kilometer sized asteroid, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Atira group, which is also known as "Apohele" and "interior-Earth objects". It is one of the closest orbiting objects to the Sun.[3][4]

(434326) 2004 JG₆

Discovery [1][2]
Discovered by	LONEOS
Discovery site	Anderson Mesa Stn.
Discovery date	11 May 2004
Designations
MPC designation	(434326) 2004 JG6
Alternative designations	2004 JG6
Minor planet category	Atira NEO PHA [1][2] Mercury-crosser Venus-crosser
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 1
Observation arc	11.05 yr (4,035 days)
Aphelion	0.9726 AU
Perihelion	0.2978 AU
Semi-major axis	0.6352 AU
Eccentricity	0.5312
Orbital period	0.51 yr (185 days)
Mean anomaly	315.54°
Mean motion	1° 56^m 48.48^s / day
Inclination	18.945°
Longitude of ascending node	37.032°
Argument of perihelion	352.99°
Earth MOID	0.0381 AU (14.8 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	0.6–1.4 km[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	18.4[1]

Discovery

2004 JG₆ was discovered on 11 May 2004, by leading astronomer Brian Skiff[4] of the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Object Search (LONEOS) at Anderson Mesa Station near Flagstaff, Arizona, United States.[2]

The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation at Anderson Mesa, as no precoveries were taken and no prior identifications were made.[2]

Orbit and classification

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.3–1.0 AU once every 6 months (185 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.53 and an inclination of 19° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

2004 JG₆ is the second known Atira asteroid – the first being the group's namesake 163693 Atira – which means its entire orbit lies within that of the Earth.[4] Its orbital period is less than that of Venus, making it one of the closest known objects to the Sun, after Mercury. Due to its eccentric orbit, it crosses the orbits of both Mercury and Venus, which also makes it a Mercury- and Venus-crosser.[1] It has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0381 AU (5,700,000 km) which translates into 14.8 lunar distances.[1]

Physical characteristics

Based on a generic conversion from absolute magnitude, the asteroid measures between 0.6 and 1.4 kilometers in diameter.[3]

Naming

As of 2017, this minor planet remains unnamed.[2]

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 434326 (2004 JG6)" (2015-05-29 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
2. "434326 (2004 JG6)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
3. "434326 (2004 JG6)". NEODyS-2, Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
4. "LONEOS Discovers Asteroid with the Smallest Orbit". Space Daily. 12 July 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2017.

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info)
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (430001)–(435000) – Minor Planet Center
• (434326) 2004 JG6 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters