(35396) 1997 XF11
Encyclopedia
is a near-Earth and Mars-crosser asteroid
which, shortly after its discovery on December 6, 1997, by James V. Scotti
of the University of Arizona
's Spacewatch Project, was predicted to make an exceptionally close approach to Earth
in October 2028. Additional precovery
observations of the asteroid
were quickly found that refined the orbit and it is now known the asteroid will pass the Earth on October 26, 2028, at a distance of 0.0062 AU, about 2.4 times the Earth-Moon distance
. During the close approach, the asteroid should peak at about apparent magnitude
8.2, and will be visible in binoculars.
(35396) 1997 XF11 is estimated to be between 1.3 km and 2.8 km in diameter.
This asteroid also comes near the large asteroid Pallas
.
Mars-crosser asteroid
A Mars-crosser is an asteroid whose orbit crosses that of Mars. The known numbered Mars-crossers are listed here. They include the two numbered Mars trojans 5261 Eureka and ....
which, shortly after its discovery on December 6, 1997, by James V. Scotti
James V. Scotti
James Vernon Scotti is an American astronomer. He was born in Bandon, Oregon and graduated from Woodway Senior High in Edmonds, Washington in 1978. He received his B.Sc. in Astronomy from the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1983. Ever since that time, he has worked on the Spacewatch project,...
of the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
's Spacewatch Project, was predicted to make an exceptionally close approach to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
in October 2028. Additional precovery
Precovery
Precovery is a term used in astronomy that describes the process of finding the image of an object in old archived images or photographic plates, for the purpose of calculating a more accurate orbit...
observations of the asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
were quickly found that refined the orbit and it is now known the asteroid will pass the Earth on October 26, 2028, at a distance of 0.0062 AU, about 2.4 times the Earth-Moon distance
Lunar distance (astronomy)
In astronomy, a lunar distance is a measurement of the distance from the Earth to the Moon. The average distance from Earth to the Moon is 384,400 kilometers...
. During the close approach, the asteroid should peak at about apparent magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
8.2, and will be visible in binoculars.
(35396) 1997 XF11 is estimated to be between 1.3 km and 2.8 km in diameter.
This asteroid also comes near the large asteroid Pallas
2 Pallas
Pallas, formally designated 2 Pallas, is the second asteroid to have been discovered , and one of the largest. It is estimated to constitute 7% of the mass of the asteroid belt, and its diameter of 530–565 km is comparable to, or slightly larger than, that of 4 Vesta. It is however 20%...
.