# 2000 EM26

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Small near-Earth asteroid

2000 EM26 Orbital diagram of 2000 EM26 Discovery[1] Discovered by LINEAR Discovery site Lincoln Laboratory's ETS Discovery date 5 March 2000 (first observation only) Designations Minor planet category NEO · Aten · PHA[1][2] Orbital characteristics[2] Epoch 21 November 2025 (JD 2461000.5) Uncertainty parameter 1[2] · 3[1] Observation arc 20.15 yr (7,358 d) Aphelion 1.1987 AU Perihelion 0.4358 AU Semi-major axis 0.8172 AU Eccentricity 0.4667 Orbital period (sidereal) 270 days Average orbital speed 12.37 km/s[3] Mean anomaly 60.561° Mean motion 1° 20m 2.76s / day Inclination 3.8362° Longitude of ascending node 344.91° Argument of perihelion 24.419° Earth MOID 0.0185 AU (7.2 LD) Physical characteristics Mean diameter 110 m (est. at 0.14)[4] Absolute magnitude (H) 22.5[1][2]

**2000 EM26** is a sub-kilometer [near-Earth object](/source/Near-Earth_object) and [potentially hazardous asteroid](/source/Potentially_hazardous_asteroid) of the [Aten group](/source/Aten_asteroid), approximately 110 meters (360 feet) in diameter. It was first observed by astronomers of the [LINEAR](/source/Lincoln_Near-Earth_Asteroid_Research) program on 5 March 2000 and followed until 14 March 2000, by which time it had dimmed to [apparent magnitude](/source/Apparent_magnitude) 20[1] and was 40[°](/source/Degree_(angle)) from the Moon.[5] By 17 March 2000 it was only 4 degrees from a 90% [waxing gibbous moon](/source/Lunar_phase).[5] It has never been listed on the [Sentry Risk Table](/source/Sentry_Risk_Table) because none of the potential orbital solutions create a risk of impact in the next ~100 years. The asteroid safely passed [Earth](/source/Earth) on 17–18 February 2014.[6] Due to a then-poorly determined orbit, the asteroid may have been significantly further from Earth and dozens of degrees from where the telescope was pointed during the 2014 approach.

## Observations

The 2014 approach was broadcast live (YouTube archive[7]) on the Internet at 09:00 pm EST (02:00 UTC), 18 February 2014, by the [Slooh community observatory](/source/Slooh).[3][8][9] Slooh's [observatory](/source/Teide_Observatory) on [Mount Teide](/source/Teide) in Spain's [Canary Islands](/source/Canary_Islands) was iced over at the time, so images from the Slooh observatory in [Dubai](/source/Dubai) were used to attempt detection of the asteroid. At the time of the broadcast, no obvious image of the asteroid could be seen.[6] Some viewers complained by [Twitter](/source/Twitter) that it was boring when the object was never shown in the images, while others said that "boring" was a good outcome for a pass-by.[10]

## Orbit

2000 EM26 is an [Aten-family asteroid](/source/Aten_asteroid),[2] and as such is often near the glare of the Sun as the asteroid seldom travels outside Earth's orbit when the Earth is nearby. The orbit was poorly constrained in 2014 since the asteroid had an observation arc of only 9 days creating an [orbital uncertainty](/source/Uncertainty_Parameter_U) of 7.[2] Since the asteroid had not been observed since 14 March 2000, the uncertainty region had kept increasing.[2] During the 2014 approach, 17 February 2014 was the first day that the [nominal](/source/Curve_fitting) orbit had a [solar elongation](/source/Elongation_(astronomy)) more than 90 degrees from the Sun making it easier to recover under a dark sky.[11] Using the nominal orbit, the asteroid was expected to have an [apparent magnitude](/source/Apparent_magnitude) of about 16[11] and pass 0.02 [AU](/source/Astronomical_unit) (3,000,000 [km](/source/Kilometre); 1,900,000 [mi](/source/Mile)) from Earth.[2] Closest approach ([perigee](/source/Perigee)-geocentrical) was around 00:15 UTC on 18 February plus or minus about 13 hours.[2] Even with an observation arc of 9 days, it was known that the minimum possible close approach distance to Earth on 18 February 2014 was 0.018 AU (2,700,000 km; 1,700,000 mi) with a small chance that the asteroid would pass as far as 0.13 AU (19,000,000 km; 12,000,000 mi) from Earth.[2] Due to the uncertainty region of the asteroid, the asteroid could have been 75 degrees from the nominal position in the sky on 18 February 2014.[11]

2000 EM26 was recovered on 24 February 2017 at magnitude 21, extending the observation arc to 17 years.[12] It is now known that 2000 EM26 passed 0.03665 AU (5,483,000 km; 3,407,000 mi) from Earth on 17 February 2014.[2] In 2020 it was again observed from 22 March till 27 April. Next well observable opposition will be in March/April 2026.

## Physical characteristics

With an [absolute magnitude](/source/Absolute_magnitude#Solar_System_bodies_(H)) of 22.5,[2] the asteroid's diameter is estimated around 80–190 meters (260–620 feet) in diameter, for a range in [albedo](/source/Albedo#Astronomical_albedo) of 0.27 to 0.05 depending on whether the object is of [stony](/source/S-type_asteroid) or [carbonaceous](/source/C-type_asteroid) composition. For a standard albedo of 0.14, it translates to a [mean diameter](/source/Mean_diameter) of 110 meters.[4]

## See also

- [List of asteroid close approaches to Earth in 2014](/source/List_of_asteroid_close_approaches_to_Earth_in_2014)

- [List of asteroid close approaches to Earth](/source/List_of_asteroid_close_approaches_to_Earth)

- [2009 RR](/source/2009_RR)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MPC-object_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MPC-object_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-MPC-object_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-MPC-object_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-MPC-object_1-4) ["2000 EM26"](https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2000+EM26). *Minor Planet Center*. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-jpldata_2-11) ["JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2000 EM26)"](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2000%20EM26) (2020-04-27 last obs.). [Jet Propulsion Laboratory](/source/Jet_Propulsion_Laboratory). Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HS-20140216_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HS-20140216_3-1) Staff (16 February 2014). ["A 270m asteroid is to swing past Earth almost exactly a year after a meteor burst over Russia"](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/science/a-270m-asteroid-is-to-swing-past-earth-almost-exactly-a-year-after-a-meteor-burst-over-russia/story-fnjwlbuf-1226829178390). *[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun)*. Retrieved 16 February 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-h_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-h_4-1) ["Asteroid Size Estimator"](https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/ast_size_est.html). CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NEODyS2000_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NEODyS2000_5-1) ["2000EM26 Ephemerides for 1 March 2000 through 1 April 2000"](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?pc=1.1.3.1&n=2000EM26&oc=500&y0=2000&m0=3&d0=1&h0=0&mi0=0&y1=2000&m1=4&d1=1&h1=0&mi1=0&ti=1.0&tiu=days). [NEODyS](/source/NEODyS) (Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 21 February 2014.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TI-20140218_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TI-20140218_6-1) Saul, Heather (18 February 2014). ["Asteroid 2000 EM26 'as big as three football fields' hurtles past Earth"](https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/asteroid-2000-em26-as-big-as-three-football-fields-hurtles-past-earth-9135450.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/asteroid-2000-em26-as-big-as-three-football-fields-hurtles-past-earth-9135450.html) on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-YT-20140218_7-0)** Staff (18 February 2014). ["Potentially Hazardous Asteroid Zipping by Earth on Close-Approach (video, 57:50)"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCFWUemLzM0#t=2037). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. Retrieved 18 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PHY-20140214_8-0)** Staff (14 February 2014). ["Potentially hazardous asteroid 2000 EM26 zipping by Earth on close approach on February 17"](http://phys.org/news/2014-02-potentially-hazardous-asteroid-em26-earth.html). *[Phys.org](/source/Phys.org)*. Retrieved 17 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SP-20140215_9-0)** Kramer, Miriam (15 February 2014). ["Huge Asteroid to Fly Safely By Earth Monday: Watch It Live"](https://www.space.com/24704-asteroid-2000-em26-earth-flyby-webcast.html). *[Space.com](/source/Space.com)*. Retrieved 17 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-USA-20140218_10-0)** Weise, Elizabeth (18 February 2014). ["Monster asteroid whizzes by Earth"](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/17/asteroid-2000-em26-near-earth-fly-by-february-17/5554945). *[USA Today](/source/USA_Today)*. Retrieved 18 February 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NEODyS2014_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NEODyS2014_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NEODyS2014_11-2) ["2000EM26 Ephemerides for 16 February 2014 through 21 February 2014"](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?pc=1.1.3.1&n=2000EM26&oc=500&y0=2014&m0=2&d0=16&h0=0&mi0=0&y1=2014&m1=2&d1=21&h1=0&mi1=0&ti=12.0&tiu=hours). [NEODyS](/source/NEODyS) (Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 17 February 2014.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MPEC2017-D78_12-0)** ["MPEC 2017-D78 : 2000 EM26"](https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K17/K17D78.html). [IAU Minor Planet Center](/source/IAU_Minor_Planet_Center). 25 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018. (K00E26M)

## External links

- [List Of Aten Minor Planets (by designation)](https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/t_atens.html), *Minor Planet Center*

- [2000 EM26](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.0) at *NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site* - [Ephemerides](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.3.0) **·** [Observation prediction](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.4.0) **·** [Orbital info](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.1) **·** [MOID](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.5) **·** [Proper elements](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.6) **·** [Observational info](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.7.0) **·** [Close approaches](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.8) **·** [Physical info](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.9) **·** [Orbit animation](https://newton.spacedys.com/neodys/index.php?n=2000+EM26&pc=1.1.A)

- [2000 EM26](https://neo.ssa.esa.int/search-for-asteroids?sum=1&des=2000EM26) at *ESA–[space situational awareness](/source/Space_Situational_Awareness_Programme)* - [Ephemerides](https://neo.ssa.esa.int/search-for-asteroids?des=2000EM26&tab=eph) **·** [Observations](https://neo.ssa.esa.int/search-for-asteroids?des=2000EM26&tab=obs) **·** [Orbit](https://neo.ssa.esa.int/search-for-asteroids?des=2000EM26&tab=orbprop) **·** [Physical properties](https://neo.ssa.esa.int/search-for-asteroids?des=2000EM26&tab=physprops) **·** [Summary](https://neo.ssa.esa.int/search-for-asteroids?des=2000EM26&tab=summary)

- [2000 EM26](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3092253) at the *[JPL Small-Body Database](/source/JPL_Small-Body_Database)* - [Close approach](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3092253&view=C) **·** [Discovery](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3092253&view=D) **·** [Ephemeris](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=3092253) **·** [Orbit viewer](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3092253&view=V) **·** [Orbit parameters](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3092253&view=O) **·** [Physical parameters](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3092253&view=P)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [2000 EM26](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_EM26) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_EM26?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.