# astro: after Florence, the binary nature of the near-Earth asteroid 2017 YE5, as dark as charcoal.

<< Near-Earth asteroid 2017 YE5 was discovered with observations provided by the Morocco Oukaimeden Sky Survey on Dec. 21, 2017. >>

<< On June 24 (..) they were able to confirm that 2017 YE5 consists of two separated objects. By June 26, both Goldstone and Arecibo had independently confirmed the asteroid's binary nature. >>

<< At its closest approach to Earth, the asteroid came to within 16 times the distance between Earth and the moon. >>

<< 2017 YE5 is likely as dark as charcoal. >>

Calla Cofield. Observatories team up to reveal rare double asteroid. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jul 13, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-07-observatories-team-reveal-rare-asteroid.html  

Also

<< Asteroid Florence, a large near-Earth asteroid, will pass safely by Earth on Sept. 1, 2017, at a distance of about 4.4 million miles, (7.0 million kilometers, or about 18 Earth-Moon distances). Florence is among the largest near-Earth asteroids that are several miles is size; measurements from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and NEOWISE mission indicate it's about 2.7 miles (4.4 kilometers) in size. >>

Large asteroid to safely pass Earth on September 1. NASA. Aug 18, 2017.

https://m.phys.org/news/2017-08-large-asteroid-safely-earth-september.html