6Q0B44E

6Q0B44E, sometimes abbreviated to B44E, is a small object, probably an item of space debris, that is currently orbiting Earth outside the orbit of the Moon as of November 2018.

6Q0B44E
Discovery
Discovered byCatalina Sky Survey (703)
Siding Spring Survey (E12)
Mount Lemmon Survey (G96)
Discovery date28 August 2006[1]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 2007 Jan 1.0 (JD 2454101.5)
Periapsis557,765 km (346,579 mi) (1.451 LD, 87.45 ER)
Apoapsis862,590 km (535,990 mi) (2.244 LD, 135.24 ER)
710,177 km (441,284 mi) (1.847 LD, 111.35 ER)
Eccentricity0.214612
68.93 days
308.134°
Inclination43.273°
130.039°
2007/01/10 22:21:48
140.596°
Satellite ofEarth
Physical characteristics
30.2

    Discovery

    6Q0B44E was first observed by Catalina Sky Survey researchers at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of the University of Arizona on 28 August 2006. The sighting was confirmed the next day by observations at the Siding Spring Survey and Table Mountain Observatory.[1]

    Properties

    The object is just a few metres across and has been provisionally classified as artificial. 6Q0B44E orbits Earth between 585,000 and 983,000 km, which is 2 to 3 times the distance of the Moon's orbit, over a period of 80 days.[3] Its density has been estimated at around 15 kg/m³, too low for natural rock and comparable to that expected for an empty fuel tank.[4]

    6Q0B44E was spotted at what is believed to be the brightest part of its orbit, at 19th magnitude. As the object moves away from Earth, its brightness falls on a six-month cycle down to 28th magnitude, severely limiting study of its composition.[5]

    Ephemerides calculated from the observations suggest that 6Q0B44E probably entered the Earth–Moon system between 2001–2003, although it may have arrived up to a decade earlier. Similarities between the discoveries of 6Q0B44E and J002E3, now believed to be part of the Apollo 12 rocket, have led some astronomers to speculate that 6Q0B44E may be another relic of human space exploration which has returned to Earth orbit. However, no space mission has been identified as the source of 6Q0B44E.[6]

    See also

    References
    1. Williams, G. (29 August 2006). "DASO Circular No. 63". Distant Artificial-Satellites Observers’ Circulars. Harvard University.
    2. Gray, Bill. "Pseudo-MPC for 6Q0B44E". Project Pluto. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
    3. "Spacewatch". The Guardian. 6 September 2006.
    4. Micheli, Marco; Tholen, David J.; Elliott, Garrett T. (2012). "Detection of radiation pressure acting on 2009 BD". New Astronomy. 17 (4): 446–452. arXiv:1106.0564. Bibcode:2012NewA...17..446M. doi:10.1016/j.newast.2011.11.008.
    5. Gray, Bill (3 September 2006). "Pseudo-MPEC for 6Q0B44E". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
    6. Azriel, Merryl (25 September 2013). "Rocket or Rock? NEO confusion abounds". Space Safety Magazine. Retrieved 8 December 2013. 6Q0B44E was first thought to be a meteor when it was spotted in 2006; it’s now considered artificial but its originating spacecraft is not known.
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