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.
Read more about this topic: 3200 Phaethon
Famous quotes containing the words close and/or approaches:
“Extraordinary creature! So close a friend, and yet so remote.”
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955)
“I should say that the most prominent scientific men of our country, and perhaps of this age, are either serving the arts and not pure science, or are performing faithful but quite subordinate labors in particular departments. They make no steady and systematic approaches to the central fact.... There is wanting constant and accurate observation with enough of theory to direct and discipline it. But, above all, there is wanting genius.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)