2018 GE3
2018 GE3 is a sub-kilometer asteroid on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 48–110 meters (160–360 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 14 April 2018, by astronomers with the Catalina Sky Survey one day prior to its sub-lunar close encounter with Earth at 0.5 lunar distance. It is one of the largest known asteroids (possibly the largest) in observational history to ever pass that close to Earth (also see list).
The orbit of 2018 GE3 with 30-day markers | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Catalina Sky Srvy. |
| Discovery site | Catalina Stn. |
| Discovery date | 14 April 2018 (first observed only) |
| Designations | |
MPC designation | 2018 GE3 |
Minor planet category | NEO · Apollo |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 7 | |
| Observation arc | 4 days |
| Aphelion | 3.3782 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.3179 AU |
Semi-major axis | 1.8481 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.8280 |
Orbital period (sidereal) | 2.51 yr (918 d) |
Mean anomaly | 333.94° |
Mean motion | 0° 23m 32.28s / day |
| Inclination | 8.7368° |
Longitude of ascending node | 25.412° |
| 300.17° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0010 AU (0.3896 LD) |
| Mercury MOID | 0.0101 AU |
| Venus MOID | 0.0556 AU |
| Mars MOID | 0.0527 AU |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 48–110 m 48 m (est. at 0.24) 100 m (est. at 0.05) |
| 23.813 | |
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