2001 AV43
is a very small, monolithic asteroid and fast rotator, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately in diameter. It was first observed on 5 January 2001, by astronomers of the LINEAR program at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States. The presumed S-type asteroid has a rotation period of only 10 minutes. It has an exceptionally low MOID of 0.66 lunar distance and will approach Earth at 0.81 LD on 11 November 2029.
Orbit and classification
is a member of the dynamical Apollo group, which are Earth-crossing asteroids. Apollo asteroids are the largest subgroup of near-Earth objects. Unlike many Apollo asteroids, this asteroid is not a Mars-crosser, as its aphelion is smaller than the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.66 AU.This asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.97–1.59 AU once every 17 months. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.24 and an inclination of 0° with respect to the ecliptic. The body's observation arc begins with a precovery found in ESO's Astrovirtel data archive, in August 2000, less than 5 months prior to its official discovery observation at Socorro.
Close approaches
has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of, which translates into 0.7 lunar distances. Due to its small size, that is, an absolute magnitude fainter than 22, this asteroid is not classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid.On 18 November 2013, the asteroid passed Earth at 2.7 LD. The angle of approach made it a good target for radar observations.
On 11 November 2029, the orbit of is predicted to bring the asteroid within a nominal distance of or 0.81 LD of Earth. It will also pass the Moon at an even shorter nominal distance of