1981 Midas

1981 Midas
Discovery
Discovered by Charles T. Kowal
Discovery date March 6, 1973
Designations
Named after
 Midas
1973 EA
Apollo
Venus crosser
Mars crosser
Orbital characteristics
Epoch December 1, 2005 (JD 2453705.5)
Aphelion 2.931 AU
Perihelion 0.621 AU
1.776 AU
Eccentricity 0.650
864.541 d
19.757 km/s
267.903°
Inclination 39.838°
357.037°
267.739°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 3.4 km[1]
5.22 h[1]
11.8 (brightest)
15.5[1]

    The asteroid 1981 Midas was discovered on March 6, 1973 by Charles T. Kowal at Palomar Observatory. It is named after Midas, the king of Phrygia in Greek mythology who turned objects to gold when he touched them. Midas is an Apollo asteroid, a Venus and Mars-crosser asteroid with an orbital period of 2 years, 134 days. Midas is about 3.4 kilometers (2.1 mi) in diameter.[1]

    Its last notable close approach to Earth was on 11 March 1992 passing 0.13332 AU (19,944,000 km; 12,393,000 mi) from Earth.[2] The next notable close approach will be on 21 March 2018 passing 0.08957 AU (13,399,000 km; 8,326,000 mi) from Earth[2] and shining at an apparent magnitude of +12.4.[3]

    Even though Midas has an Earth-MOID of 0.002 AU (300,000 km; 190,000 mi),[1] the orbit is well determined and Midas does not pose an impact risk.[2]

    In 1987, this object was detected with radar from Goldstone at a distance of 0.08 AU. The measured radar cross-section was 0.1 km2 or less.[4]

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1981 Midas (1973 EA)" (2013-12-30 last obs). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "JPL Close-Approach Data: 1981 Midas (1973 EA)" (2013-12-30 last obs). Retrieved 2014-01-31.
    3. ↑ "(1981) Midas Ephemerides for 15 Feb 2018 through 15 Apr 2018". NEODyS (Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 2014-01-31.
    4. ↑ Ostro, S. J. et al. (October 1991), "Asteroid radar astrometry", Astronomical Journal 102: 1490–1502, Bibcode:1991AJ....102.1490O, doi:10.1086/115975.

    External links