2002 MN

2002 MN

Discovery[1] and designation
Discovered by	MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Discovery date	June 17, 2002
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch JD 2454200.5
Aphelion	1.8153 AU
Perihelion	0.91143 AU
Eccentricity	0.4979
Orbital period	893.3 d
Mean anomaly	3.9°
Inclination	1.0471°
Longitude of ascending node	85.1046°
Argument of perihelion	131.666°
Proper orbital elements
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	70 m
Mass	5.4×108 kg
Absolute magnitude (H)	23.3

2002 MN is the provisional name given to an asteroid that on June 14, 2002 missed the Earth by only 75,000 miles (120,000 km.), about one third the distance to the Moon (0.3 LD). According to NASA, it was the second closest approach to Earth in recorded history[1]. Its mass and relative velocity were in the same general range as the object ascribed to the Tunguska event of 1908, which levelled over 800 square miles (2,100 km²) of trees in Siberia.

References

1. ^ Asteroid's near-miss with Earth - 21 June 2002 - New Scientist
2. ^ JPL Small-Body Database Browser

External links

• CNN article: "Surprise asteroid nearly hits home"
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory web page visualizes its orbit