(524522) 2002 VE68

temporary quasi-satellite of Venus

(524522) 2002 VE68 is an asteroid and a temporary quasi-satellite of Venus.[1] It was the first quasi-satellite to be found around a planet in the Solar System. It looks like it travels around Venus during one Venerean year but it actually orbits the Sun, not Venus.[2]

Discovery, orbit and physical properties change

It was discovered on 11 November 2002 at Lowell Observatory. It has a semi-major axis of 0.7237 AU. Its eccentricity is 0.4104. Its orbital inclination is 9.0060°. It is calculated to measure 236 meters in diameters. Its rotational period is 13.5 hours.[3]

Potentially hazardous asteroid change

2002 VE68 is in the Minor Planet Center list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) because it frequently comes as close as 0.05 AU (7,479,894 km) to Earth. It comes as close as 0.04 AU (5,983,915 km) every 8 years.[4]

References change

  1. "Discovery of the first quasi-satellite of Venus (press announcement, Tuorla Observatory)". www.astro.utu.fi. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  2. Mikkola, S.; Brasser, R.; Wiegert, P.; Innanen, K. (2004). "Asteroid 2002 VE68, a quasi-satellite of Venus". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 351 (3): L63–L65. Bibcode:2004MNRAS.351L..63M. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.07994.x. ISSN 0035-8711.
  3. "Physical characterization of 2002 VE68, a quasi-moon of Venus" (PDF). 2013-12-18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  4. de la Fuente Marcos, C.; de la Fuente Marcos, R. (2012-11-01). "On the dynamical evolution of 2002 VE68". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 427 (1): 728–739. arXiv:1208.4444. Bibcode:2012MNRAS.427..728D. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21936.x. ISSN 0035-8711. S2CID 118535095.