2018 LF₁₆ is a small Mars crossing asteroid roughly 213 m (699 ft) in diameter. It was first observed by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory on 14 June 2018. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 29 July 2021. With an observation arc of 15 years the orbit is very well known and it does not make any notable approaches to Earth.[2]

2018 LF₁₆

The best inclined orbit is currently completely outside Earth's orbit, with markers every 30 days of motion.
Discovery [1]
Discovered by	Pan-STARRS 1
Discovery site	Haleakala Obs.
Discovery date	14 June 2018
Designations
MPC designation	2018 LF16
Minor planet category	Mars crossing asteroid [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 15 June 2018 (JD 2458284.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	15 years
Aphelion	1.968 AU (on 2023-Sep-16)
Perihelion	1.5673 AU
Semi-major axis	1.7679 AU
Eccentricity	0.11347
Orbital period (sidereal)	2.35 yr (622 d)
Mean anomaly	10.87°
Mean motion	0° 22m 24.96s / day
Inclination	21.903°
Longitude of ascending node	210.28°
Time of perihelion	2022-Jul-14[2]
Argument of perihelion	306.89°
Earth MOID	0.61 AU (91 million km)[2]
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	213 m[3] 400 m[4] 300-670 meters
Absolute magnitude (H)	19.75[1][2][4]

In November 2018, when the asteroid had an almost worthless observation arc of 1.8 days, news article headlines exaggerated[5] claims of 62 potentially dangerous Earth-orbit crossings in the next century but also reported NASA calculations indicating there was only a 1 in 30,000,000 chance of impact.[6] Additionally, 2018 LF₁₆ was rated at 0 on the Torino Scale, meaning that the chance of impact was so low as to effectively be zero. The observation arc extended only 1.8 days,[3] leaving large uncertainties in its predicted motion,[7][8] causing 2018 LF₁₆ to be considered a lost asteroid.[9]

With an observation arc of 15 years, it is known that its orbit leaves it entirely outside of Earth's orbit, never coming closer than 0.61 AU (91 million km) to Earth (MOID).[2] On 7 August 2023 the asteroid will be roughly 1.1 AU (160 million km) from Earth with an uncertainty region of ±142 km.[10] It will reach aphelion (farthest point from the Sun) on 16 September 2023. It will pass 0.080 AU (12.0 million km) from Mars on 6 July 2027.[2]

References

External links

• 2018 LF16 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemerides · Observation prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Observational info · Close approaches · Physical info · Orbit animation
• 2018 LF16 at ESA–space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical properties · Summary
• 2018 LF16 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters

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