3200 Phaethon - Recent Close Approaches

Recent Close Approaches

Phaethon approached to 18.1 Gm of Earth on December 10, 2007. It will draw nearer in 2017, 2050, 2060, and closer still on December 14, 2093, passing within 0.0198 AU (3.0 Gm).

When Phaethon came to perihelion in July 2009, it was brighter than expected. As Phaethon approached perihelion in June 2009, the STEREO-A spacecraft detected an unexpected brightening, by a factor of two.

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