03gM

03gM is a minor planet designated by the Minor Planet Center and classified as a near-Earth asteroid. It was officially discovered on 12 February 2003 by the Spacewatch program at Kitt Peak National Observatory using a 0.9‑meter telescope. The provisional designation 2003 TB_13 indicated its discovery during the third observing session in February 2003. Later observations refined its orbit and the asteroid was assigned the permanent number 03gM in 2004.

The orbital parameters of 03gM place it in the Apollo group of asteroids. Its semi‑major axis is 1.43 AU, with an eccentricity of 0.20 that gives it a perihelion distance of 1.14 AU and an aphelion distance of 1.72 AU. The orbital period is 1.71 years (about 625 days), and it has a moderate inclination of approximately 3.6° relative to the ecliptic. Because its orbit crosses Earth's path, 03gM is categorized as a potentially hazardous asteroid, although its current minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) is 0.05 AU, which is outside the threshold for immediate concern.

Photometric studies have indicated a rotation period of roughly 4.3 hours and a light curve amplitude of 0.25 magnitudes, suggesting a relatively elongated shape. Spectroscopic analysis points to a stony (S‑type) composition, with silicate minerals dominant in the surface material. The asteroid's estimated diameter is about 0.7 kilometers, calculated from a typical albedo of 0.20. Observations from amateur and professional telescopes continue to refine 03gM's physical and orbital characteristics, contributing to ongoing research on the population of near‑Earth objects and their potential impact threats.