2006 RH120
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Catalina Sky Survey (703) |
| Discovery date | 14 September 2006 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | 2006 RH120 |
|
Amor (2013) Apollo (2012) Aten (2007) (Temporary satellite of Earth 2006–2007) |
|
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 2016-07-31 (JD 2457600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 1 | |
| Observation arc | 281 days |
| Aphelion | 1.058 AU (158.3 Gm) (Q) |
| Perihelion | 1.0078 AU (150.76 Gm) (q) |
| 1.0331 AU (154.55 Gm) (a) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.02448 (e) (Geocentric hyperbolic e=2300000+) |
| 1.05 yr | |
| 95.200° (M) | |
| Inclination | 0.59505° (i) |
| 51.166° (Ω) | |
| 10.045° (ω) | |
| Earth MOID | 0.01627 AU (2,434,000 km) |
| Jupiter MOID | 3.93 AU (588 Gm) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | ~2–3 metres |
| 2.75 minutes, 0.04583 h (2.750 min) | |
| 0.1 ? | |
| 29.5 | |
2006 RH120 is a tiny near-Earth asteroid with a diameter of about 2–3 meters that ordinarily orbits the Sun but makes close approaches to the Earth–Moon system around every twenty years, when it can temporarily enter Earth orbit through temporary satellite capture (TSC). Most recently, it was in Earth orbit from September 2006 to June 2007.
Until given a minor planet designation on 18 February 2008, the object was known as 6R10DB9, an internal identification number assigned by the Catalina Sky Survey.
2006 RH120 was discovered on 14 September 2006 by the 27-inch (690 mm) Schmidt camera of the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona. "6R10DB9" was the Catalina Sky Survey's own discovery designation for this object, which usually would only be used on the MPC's NEO Confirmation Page (NEOCP) until an IAU designation was applied, if the object was classified as a minor object. It was added on 14 September to the NEOCP and subsequently removed with the explanation that it "was not a minor planet". Preliminary orbital calculations indicated it was captured by Earth's gravity from solar orbit of a period of about 11 months, which is similar to that of many spent rocket boosters dating to the Apollo program of the 1960s and early 1970s. 6R10DB was assigned the designation 2006 RH120 on 18 February 2008.
Some controversy existed regarding the origin of the object. Upon discovery, it was not given a formal name because its size, orbit, and spectrum were consistent with the white titanium-oxide paint used on Saturn V rockets, which meant it could be an artificial object. Precedents for this exist: J002E3 is currently thought to be the third-stage Saturn S-IVB booster from Apollo 12 and was in an almost identical orbit, and 6Q0B44E, discovered a month earlier, was also thought to be artificial. Its status as a satellite was also debated, with A. W. Harris of the Space Science Institute commenting, "Claiming some bit of fluff in a temporary looping orbit to be a ‘satellite,’ with all the baggage that term carries, is mere hype".
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