is a very small near-Earth asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately in diameter. It was first observed by the Mount Lemmon Survey on 28 January 2019, just hours after the asteroid's sub-lunar flyby of Earth at less than 0.12 lunar distance.
Orbit and classification
is an Apollo asteroid, the largest subgroup of near-Earth objects. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.96–3.6 AU once every 3 years and 6 months (1,268 days; semi-major axis of 2.29 AU). Its orbit has a high eccentricity of 0.58 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic. The body still has a high orbital uncertainty of 5 and 7, respectively. Its observation arc of only 8 days begins with its official first observation at Mount Lemmon Observatory on 28 January 2019.
Close approaches
has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of , which corresponds to 0.18 lunar distances (LD). Due to its very small size, however, is not a potentially hazardous asteroid, which are required to be approximately in diameter, that is, to be brighter than an absolute magnitude of 22.
Flybys On 27 January 2019 at UTC 23:29, passed Earth at a nominal distance of 48,130 km (0.125 LD) with a relative velocity of . Six hours later, it flew by the Moon at . The object's next close approaches will occur on 17 December 2025 at a much greater distance of , and on 29 January 2085 at .
Numbering and naming
This minor planet has not yet been numbered by the Minor Planet Center and remains unnamed.
Physical characteristics
has an undetermined spectral type. Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, the asteroid measures approximately 6 meter in diameter for an assumed albedo of 0.15 and absolute magnitude 28.8. The estimated diameter may vary between 5 and 10 meters depending on whether an albedo for a dark carbonaceous (0.05) or a bright stony (0.25) asteroid is assumed.
See also List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2019
References
External links 2019 BZ3 -- Very small Apollo-class Asteroid, spacereference.org 2019 BZ3 Geometry, International Asteroid Warning Network MPEC 2019-B142: 2019 BZ3, MPC, 2019 Jan. 29, 12:24 UT Near-Earth Object Observations Program, 24 NASA, June 2019 Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info )