6489 Golevka is an Apollo, Mars-crosser, and Alinda asteroid discovered in 1991 by Eleanor F. Helin.

6489 Golevka
Computer-generated model of Golevka based on Arecibo radar data
Discovery
Discovered byEleanor F. Helin
Discovery date10 May 1991
Designations
(6489) Golevka
1991 JX
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 6 November 2001 (JD 2452219.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc8968 days (24.55 yr)
Aphelion4.021663 AU (601.6322 Gm)
Perihelion0.992813 AU (148.5227 Gm)
2.507238 AU (375.0775 Gm)
Eccentricity0.604021
3.97 yr (1450.1 d)
213.841234°
0° 14m 53.744s / day
Inclination2.278065°
211.596909°
65.939347°
Earth MOID0.0288423 AU (4.31475 Gm)
Jupiter MOID1.13922 AU (170.425 Gm)
TJupiter3.181
Physical characteristics
0.53 km[1]
Mass2.10×1011 kg
Mean density
2.7+0.4
−0.6
 g/cm3
6.026 h (0.2511 d)[1]
0.151 ± 0.023[1]
Q
19.2[1]

Its name has a complicated origin. In 1995, Golevka was studied simultaneously by three radar observatories across the world: Goldstone in California, Yevpatoria RT-70 radio telescope in Ukraine (Yevpatoria is sometimes romanized as Evpatoria) and Kashima in Japan. 'Golevka' comes from the first few letters of each observatory's name; it was proposed by the discoverer following a suggestion by Alexander L. Zaitsev.

Golevka is a small object, measuring 0.6 × 1.4 km. The radar observations revealed that it has a very strange, angular shape that looks different depending on the direction. In 2003 the Yarkovsky effect was first observed at work by high-precision radar observations of Golevka.[2] Between 1991 and 2003, the small force of the Yarkovsky effect caused a shift of 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from what would be expected based on only gravitational interactions.[2] This helped evaluate the asteroid's bulk density (2.7 ± 0.5 g/cm3) and mass (2.10×1011 kg).

Golevka approaches Earth to 0.05 AU (7,500,000 km; 4,600,000 mi) in 2046, 0.10 AU in 2069, and 0.11 AU in 2092.[3] On the other hand, Golevka's collision probability with any planet is negligible for at least the next nine centuries.[4] Its orbit is strikingly similar to that of 4179 Toutatis in eccentricity, semi-major axis, and inclination. However, Toutatis is better known due to a close approach to Earth in 2004.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 6489 Golevka (1991 JX)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b David Morrison (14 January 2004). "Precision NEO Orbits and the Yarkovsky Effect". Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards (NASA). Archived from the original on 8 November 2005. Retrieved 15 April 2004.
  3. ^ "NEODys (6489) Golevka". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, ITALY. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  4. ^ Hudson, R.; Ostro, S.; Jurgens, R.; Rosema, K.; Giorgini, J.; Winkler, R.; et al. (2000). "Radar observations and physical model of asteroid 6489 Golevka". Icarus. 148 (1): 37–51. Bibcode:2000Icar..148...37H. doi:10.1006/icar.2000.6483. hdl:2014/14189.
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