“It is categorized as an Apollo asteroid, as its semi-major axis is greater than that of the Earth’s and its perihelion is less than 1.017 AU [apprx 93,000,000 mi]. It is also suspected to be a member of the Pallas family of asteroids.[3]
Phaethon’s most remarkable distinction is that it approaches the Sun closer than any other named asteroid: its perihelion is only 0.140 AU (13,000,000 mi) — less than half of Mercury’s perihelion distance. It is a Mercury-, Venus-, Earth-, and Mars-crosser as a result of its high orbital eccentricity. The surface temperature at perihelion could reach around 1,025 K (750 deg C; 1,390 deg F).
Phaethon is an asteroid with fairly unusual characteristics in that its orbit more closely resembles that of a comet than an asteroid; it has been referred to as a “rock comet”.[4] In recent studies performed by NASA’s STEREO spacecraft, dust tails have been observed,[5] and in 2010 Phaethon was detected ejecting dust.[6] It is possible that the Sun’s heat is causing fractures similar to mudcracks in a dry lake bed.[6]
Phaethon’s composition fits the notion of its cometary origin; it is classified as a B-type asteroid because it is composed of dark material. Since its discovery, several other objects were found exhibiting mixed cometary and asteroidal features, such as 133P/Elst-Pizarro.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3200_Phaethon#Orbital_characteristics
Astronomy Picture of the Day — When Gemini Sends Stars to Paranal
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3371946/posts
Over 3 miles long, 1/8th mile wide, Phaethon 3200 could gouge out a nice hole, oh yeah, and destroy civilization, while ending most species including 99% of humanity, y’know, give or take not hitting on land. :’)