2003 YN107

Template:Mp is a tiny asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Aten group moving in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with Earth. Because of that, it is in a co-orbital configuration relative to Earth.<ref name=p1 /><ref name=p2 /><ref name=p3 />

Discovery, orbit and physical properties

Template:Mp was discovered by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) system in orbit around the Sun on 20 December 2003. Its diameter is approximately 10 to 30 metres. The object is on NASA's Earth Close Approach list, and is estimated to miss Earth by 0.01 AU. It revolves around the Sun on an Earth-like, almost circular, orbit. Its orbital period of 363.846 days also is very close to the sidereal year.

Co-orbital with Earth and orbital evolution

From approximately 1997 to 2006, the asteroid remained within Template:Convert of Earth and it appeared to slowly orbit Earth.<ref name=p1 /> However, Template:Mp is no second moon, as it is not bound to Earth. It is the first discovered member of a postulated group of coorbital objects, or quasi-satellites, which show these path characteristics.<ref name=p1 /><ref name=p2 /> Other members of this group include 10563 Izhdubar, 54509 YORP, Template:Mpl, Template:Mpl, and Template:LoMP. Before 1996, the asteroid had been on a so-called horseshoe orbit around the Sun, along the Earth's orbit. After 2006, it had regained such an orbit. This makes it very similar to Template:Mpl, which will become a quasi-satellite of Earth in approximately 600 years.<ref name=p1 /><ref name=p2 /><ref name=p3 /> Template:Multiple image Template:Clear

See also

• Arjuna asteroid
• Natural satellite
• Quasi-satellite
• 3753 Cruithne
• 6Q0B44E
• Template:Mpl
• Template:Mpl
• Template:Mpl
• Template:Mpl
• Template:Mpl
• Template:Mpl
• Template:Mpl
• Template:Mpl
• Template:Mpl

External links

• MPEC 2003-Y76 : 2003 YN107 (Discovery MPEC)
• NASA's Near-Earth Object close approach tables
• Corkscrew Asteroid, Tony Phillips, Science@NASA, 9 June 2006.
• Horseshoe asteroids and quasi-satellites in Earth-like orbits
• Template:NeoDys
• Template:ESA-SSA
• Template:JPL small body