51826

51826 is a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) classified as a potentially hazardous object (PHO) due to its close orbital approach to Earth. Discovered on March 10, 1992, by astronomers at the Palomar Observatory in California, it was initially designated as 1992 DB. The asteroid received its permanent minor planet number, 51826, in 2000 after its orbit was sufficiently characterized.

51826 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, which are characterized by orbits that cross Earth’s path. Its diameter is estimated to be between 0.5 and 1.1 kilometers, making it a relatively small but potentially significant object in terms of impact risk. The asteroid has an elliptical orbit with a period of approximately 1.3 years, bringing it relatively close to Earth every few decades.

While 51826 is classified as a PHO, its current trajectory does not pose an immediate threat of collision with Earth. However, its orbit is monitored by space agencies, including NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), to assess long-term risks. Close approaches have been recorded, with the most recent significant flyby occurring in 2021, when it passed within about 0.04 astronomical units (6 million kilometers) of Earth.

The asteroid’s composition is not well-determined, but it is likely a stony or metallic body, common among Apollo asteroids. Studies of near-Earth asteroids like 51826 help scientists better understand the dynamics of the solar system, the potential hazards posed by space rocks, and the resources they may contain. Missions to study or deflect such objects are actively being developed as a precautionary measure.