2011 GA

2011 GA
Discovery[1]
Discovered byMount Lemmon Survey
Discovery siteCatalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona, USA
Discovery dateApril 1, 2011
Designations
2011 GA
MPO 200327
Apollo
NEO, PHA, Earth crosser, Mars crosser
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc12.63 yr (4614 days)
Aphelion2.86328 AU (428.341 Gm)
Perihelion0.73589 AU (110.088 Gm)
1.79958 AU (269.213 Gm)
Eccentricity0.59108
2.41 yr (884.44 d)
332.056°
0° 24m 29.768s /day
Inclination9.82630°
200.341°
109.694°
Earth MOID0.00711963 AU (1,065,081 km)
Jupiter MOID2.5206 AU (377.08 Gm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions170–380 m[3]
4.4 hours
20.7[2]

2011 GA is a Near-Earth object and Apollo asteroid that passed close to the Earth on 15 October 2023. Due to its size and low MOID, it is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA).

Observations

2011 GA was discovered on 1 April 2011 by Andrea Boattinti, who was working for the Mount Lemmon Survey. [4]

In the days just after the close approach, the asteroid was observed by the Goldstone Solar-System Radar.[5]

Orbit and physical characteristics

The orbit and size of 2011 GA makes it a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA). 2011 GA passed within 0.01743 AU (2,607,000 km; 1,620,000 mi) of the Earth on 15 October 2023.[6] The asteroid also passed within 0.02494 AU (3,731,000 km; 2,318,000 mi) from Earth around 15 October 1977. For comparison, the distance to the Moon is about 0.0026 AU (384,400 km).

2011 GA has a rotation period of about 4.4 hours.[5] Radar images of the asteroid showed a smooth, regular shape.

The Jupiter Tisserand invariant, used to distinguish different kinds of orbits, is 3.826.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2011 GA". Minor Planet Center. 10 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2011 GA)" (last observation: 2023-11-18; arc: 4614 days). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  3. ^ "ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE (H)". NASA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2001.
  4. ^ "MPEC 2011-G12 : 2011 GA". www.minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "2011 GA, 1998 HH49, 2019 HH4, 2003 UC20, 2021 SZ4". echo.jpl.nasa.gov. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  6. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2011 GA) – Close-Approach Data". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 5 May 2015.