(524522) 2002 VE68 facts for kids
(524522) 2002 VE68 is a space rock, also known as an asteroid. It's special because it's a temporary quasi-satellite of Venus. This means it travels very close to Venus, almost like a companion, but it doesn't actually orbit Venus. Instead, it orbits the Sun, just like Venus does.
This asteroid was the first "quasi-satellite" ever found around a planet in our Solar System. Even though it seems to follow Venus for a while, it's always controlled by the Sun's gravity.
Discovering Asteroid 2002 VE68
This interesting asteroid was found on November 11, 2002. Scientists at the Lowell Observatory discovered it. This observatory is a famous place where many space objects have been found.
How 2002 VE68 Moves in Space
Asteroid 2002 VE68 has a unique path around the Sun. Its orbit is not a perfect circle; it's more of an oval shape. This oval path is also tilted compared to the paths of the planets.
Scientists have measured its size. This asteroid is about 236 meters (or about 774 feet) wide. That's roughly the length of two and a half football fields! It also spins, completing one full rotation every 13.5 hours.
Is 2002 VE68 a Dangerous Asteroid?
Asteroid 2002 VE68 is on a special list called "Potentially Hazardous Asteroids" (PHAs). This doesn't mean it will hit Earth, but it means its orbit brings it quite close to our planet sometimes.
It can come as close as 7.5 million kilometers (about 4.6 million miles) to Earth. Every 8 years, it gets even closer, within about 6 million kilometers (about 3.7 million miles). Scientists keep a close eye on asteroids like this to make sure we know where they are.
