56597

The designation **56597** is primarily associated with the near-Earth asteroid **2000 FL19**, a celestial object discovered on March 24, 2000, by astronomers at the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in New Mexico. This asteroid belongs to the Apollo group, a category of near-Earth objects (NEOs) with orbits that cross Earth’s path, though it is not classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) due to its relatively small size and distance from Earth during close approaches.

2000 FL19 has an estimated diameter of approximately 1.5 kilometers and orbits the Sun once every 3.1 years. Its orbit is highly elliptical, ranging from about 0.7 astronomical units (AU) at perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) to nearly 3.5 AU at aphelion (farthest point). While it occasionally comes close to Earth, its closest recorded approach occurred on March 22, 2000, when it passed at a distance of roughly 0.04 AU (about 6 million kilometers).

The asteroid’s designation, **56597**, was assigned after its orbit was confirmed and cataloged by the Minor Planet Center, which tracks small bodies in the solar system. Unlike numbered minor planets, which often receive official names, 2000 FL19 remains unnamed in the astronomical community. Its study contributes to understanding the distribution and behavior of near-Earth objects, aiding efforts in planetary defense and space exploration. Observations of such asteroids help scientists refine models of orbital dynamics and assess potential risks to Earth.