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2019 OK
2019 OK is a near-Earth asteroid noted for its sudden, surprise discovery on the day before it flew by at approximately 70,000 km (43,000 mi) in 2019. The object's size is estimated at 57 to 130 metres (187 to 426 ft) across, the closest asteroid of such size discovered in 2019. It is uncommon for asteroids of this moderately large size to pass within 100,000 km (62,000 mi) of Earth.
2019 OK was discovered by the ATLAS survey on 24 July 2019, approximately one day before its closest approach to Earth. Its late detection was primarily due to its approach direction from the daytime sky, close to the Sun as seen from Earth, which significantly reduced its observability by ground-based optical surveys.
Near-Earth objects arriving from solar elongations near 0° are difficult to detect because telescopes conducting asteroid surveys generally avoid regions of the sky close to the Sun due to scattered sunlight and reduced contrast. As a result, 2019 OK was only identified once it had moved into a more favorable observing geometry shortly before its close approach.
The case of 2019 OK has been cited in planetary defense studies as an example of the observational blind spot for asteroids approaching from sunward directions.
2019 OK was first detected on 24 July 2019 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescope. Following initial detection, follow-up observations were rapidly conducted by multiple observatories to refine its orbit in the limited time before closest approach.
Within hours of discovery, additional astrometric measurements were reported to the Minor Planet Center, allowing the orbit solution to be improved significantly. As more observations were added, uncertainty in the predicted trajectory decreased, enabling accurate prediction of its Earth flyby on 25 July 2019.
After the close approach, further observations helped extend the observational arc and refine its orbital parameters, improving long-term orbit modeling.
2019 OK is estimated to be approximately 50–130 metres in diameter, based on its absolute magnitude and assumed range of possible surface reflectivities (albedo). The large uncertainty in size arises from the lack of direct radar imaging or spacecraft observations.
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2019 OK
2019 OK is a near-Earth asteroid noted for its sudden, surprise discovery on the day before it flew by at approximately 70,000 km (43,000 mi) in 2019. The object's size is estimated at 57 to 130 metres (187 to 426 ft) across, the closest asteroid of such size discovered in 2019. It is uncommon for asteroids of this moderately large size to pass within 100,000 km (62,000 mi) of Earth.
2019 OK was discovered by the ATLAS survey on 24 July 2019, approximately one day before its closest approach to Earth. Its late detection was primarily due to its approach direction from the daytime sky, close to the Sun as seen from Earth, which significantly reduced its observability by ground-based optical surveys.
Near-Earth objects arriving from solar elongations near 0° are difficult to detect because telescopes conducting asteroid surveys generally avoid regions of the sky close to the Sun due to scattered sunlight and reduced contrast. As a result, 2019 OK was only identified once it had moved into a more favorable observing geometry shortly before its close approach.
The case of 2019 OK has been cited in planetary defense studies as an example of the observational blind spot for asteroids approaching from sunward directions.
2019 OK was first detected on 24 July 2019 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescope. Following initial detection, follow-up observations were rapidly conducted by multiple observatories to refine its orbit in the limited time before closest approach.
Within hours of discovery, additional astrometric measurements were reported to the Minor Planet Center, allowing the orbit solution to be improved significantly. As more observations were added, uncertainty in the predicted trajectory decreased, enabling accurate prediction of its Earth flyby on 25 July 2019.
After the close approach, further observations helped extend the observational arc and refine its orbital parameters, improving long-term orbit modeling.
2019 OK is estimated to be approximately 50–130 metres in diameter, based on its absolute magnitude and assumed range of possible surface reflectivities (albedo). The large uncertainty in size arises from the lack of direct radar imaging or spacecraft observations.