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2009 VA is an asteroid that came within 14,000 kilometres (8,700 mi) of Earth on 6 November 2009 making it the third closest non-impacting approach of a cataloged asteroid.

With a diameter of only 7 metres (23 ft), scientists think that even if it had been on a direct collision course with Earth, it would have likely burned up in the atmosphere. The space rock made its pass by Earth just fifteen hours after its discovery.

The asteroid was first discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey at the University of Arizona. It was determined that the object would make a pass well within the orbit of the Moon, but would not strike Earth. The object passed so close to Earth that its orbit was modified by Earth's gravity.

See also

• 2008 TC₃
• 2010 RF12, 2010 RX30, 2010 TD54 - a similar-sized asteroids that passed Earth in 2010
• List of notable asteroids#Record-setting close approaches to Earth for other, closer approaches
• List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2009

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2009 VA)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
2. "Small Asteroid 2009 VA Whizzes By Earth". Science Daily. Archived from the original on 15 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
3. Small Asteroid Spotted Flying Close To Earth Archived 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, redorbit.com, 11 November 2009
4. ^ Alan Boyle. "Space rock buzzes past Earth". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.

External links

• Small Asteroid 2009 VA Whizzes By The Earth
• 2009 VA at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemerides · Observation prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Observational info · Close approaches · Physical info · Orbit animation
• 2009 VA at ESA–space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical properties · Summary
• 2009 VA at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters

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