Discovery date May 6, 2006 Discovered 6 May 2006 Argument of perihelion 273.635° | MPC designation 2006 JY26 Inclination 1.43911° Mean anomaly 114.637° | |
Aphelion 1.094127 AU (163.6791 Gm) Semi-major axis 1.010191 AU (151.1224 Gm) Similar (419624) 2010 SO16, 54509 YORP, 2014 OL339, 2002 AA29, 2003 YN107 | ||
2006 JY26, also written 2006 JY26, is a horseshoe companion to the Earth like 3753 Cruithne.
Contents
Discovery, orbit and physical properties
2006 JY26 was discovered by E. J. Christensen on May 6, 2006 observing for the Catalina Sky Survey. Its orbit is characterized by low eccentricity (0.083), low inclination (1.44º) and a semi-major axis of 1.01 AU. Upon discovery, it was classified as an Apollo asteroid but also an Earth crosser by the Minor Planet Center. As of May 11, 2013 its orbit is based on 71 observations spanning a data-arc of 4 days. 2006 JY26 has an absolute magnitude (H) of 28.3 which gives a characteristic diameter of about 9 meters.
Impact risk
It is listed on the Sentry Risk Table with a 1 in 71 chance of impacting Earth on May 3, 2073. The nominal best-fit orbit shows that 2006 JY26 will be 0.01 AU (1,500,000 km; 930,000 mi) from Earth on May 3, 2074. An impact from this object would be less severe than the Chelyabinsk meteor.
Horseshoe companion to the Earth and orbital evolution
Recent calculations indicate that it follows a horseshoe orbit with respect to the Earth. It had a close encounter with the Earth on May 10, 2006 at 0.0029 AU (430,000 km; 270,000 mi). Its orbital evolution is very chaotic and its orbit is difficult to predict beyond a few hundred years. Its orbit matches the expected properties of that of an object in the Arjuna-class.
Origin
It may have been originated within the Venus-Earth-Mars region or in the main asteroid belt like other Near-Earth Objects, then transition to Amor-class asteroid before entering Earth's co-orbital region.