Recently opened, the asteroid 2016 HO3 was kazipoteka of the Earth, say scientists.
A team of astronomers representing the American space Agency NASA discovered the asteroid, called 2016 HO3, which is a satellite, but rather, quasistatic our planet.
Actually, it is orbiting the Sun, but because of the characteristics of the trajectory he’s already almost a hundred years revolves around the Earth, and according to calculations, will not leave her, at least a few centuries.
Heavenly body was found in April this year with the help of automatic the Hawaiian telescope Pan-STARRS 1. So far, scientists cannot safely be called its size and weight, but it is expected that in diameter it is unlikely to less than forty meters, or more than one hundred meters.
About half the time the asteroid spends closer to the Sun than the Earth, and the other half away from him. This happens because the gravitational field of the Earth is constantly “corrects” its orbit.
The influence of Earth’s gravity enough for you to 2016 HO3 never been apart from her 200 times farther than the Moon. While he may not approach the planet at a distance of less than 38 times the distance from earth to the moon. As a result, the asteroid has long revolves around the Earth, while not presenting the danger to her
Previously, scientists already discovered asteroids, some time who quasistatically Land, including 2001 GO2, 2002 AA29, 2003 YN107 and 2004 GU9 (four-digit number in all cases refers to the year of opening).
However, 2003 YN107 has already departed from the planet, is freed from its gravitational effects, and further most other quasispherical, present and future, awaits the same fate. The door to 2016 HO3 scientists call a significantly more stable.
Astronomers plan to continue monitoring kazipoteka. Meanwhile, NASA experts presented a video, which is schematically depicted as Earth and 2016 HO3 moving relative to the Sun.
