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4954 Eric

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4954 Eric
Shape model of Eric from its lightcurve
Discovery[1]
Discovered byBrian P. Roman
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date23 September 1990
Designations
(4954) Eric
1990 SQ
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc14681 days (40.19 yr)
Aphelion2.8993 AU (433.73 Gm)
Perihelion1.10393 AU (165.146 Gm)
2.0016 AU (299.44 Gm)
Eccentricity0.44848
2.83 yr (1034.4 d)
314.18°
0° 20m 52.944s / day
Inclination17.4461°
358.52°
52.429°
Earth MOID0.194843 AU (29.1481 Gm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions10.8 km
5.4 km
12.052[3] hours
S (SMASSII)
12.6

4954 Eric (prov. designation: 1990 SQ) is an eccentric, stony asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Amor group, approximately 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) in diameter. It was discovered by American astronomer Brian Roman at Palomar Observatory on 23 September 1990.[4] The asteroid was named after its discoverer's son, Eric Roman.

Orbit diagram of 4954 Eric with location of object on 18 June 2013

It is the largest near-Earth asteroid discovered since 3552 Don Quixote in 1983.[2] On 2007 October 11 the asteroid passed 0.2865 AU (42,860,000 km; 26,630,000 mi) from Earth.[4] It currently makes closer approaches to Mars than it does Earth. The asteroid has a rotation period of 12.05 hours.[3]

Other large near-Earth asteroids include 1036 Ganymed (32 km), 3552 Don Quixote (19 km), 433 Eros (17 km), and 1866 Sisyphus (8.5 km).[2][5]

References

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  1. ^ "(4954) Eric = 1990 SQ". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "JPL Small-Body Database Search Engine: asteroids and NEOs and H < 13 (mag)". JPL Solar System Dynamics. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b Hanus, J.; Durech, J.; Broz, M.; Marciniak, A.; Warner, B. D.; Pilcher, F.; et al. (March 2013). "Asteroids' physical models from combined dense and sparse photometry and scaling of the YORP effect by the observed obliquity distribution". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 551: 16. arXiv:1301.6943. Bibcode:2013A&A...551A..67H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220701. S2CID 118627434.
  4. ^ a b "JPL Close-Approach Data: 4954 Eric (1990 SQ)" (2012-09-04 last obs). Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  5. ^ Philip A. Bland; Elaine A. Moore; Ian Wright; Mike Widdowson (2004). An Introduction to the Solar System. Cambridge University Press. p. 394. ISBN 978-0-521-54620-1.
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