2012 FC71

2012 FC71
Discovery
Discovered by A. Boattini (Mt. Lemmon Survey)
Discovery date March 31, 2012
Designations
MPC designation 2012 FC71
Aten NEO,[1][2]
Earth crosser
Orbital characteristics[2][3][4]
Epoch April 18, 2013 (JD 2456400.5)
Aphelion 1.07629AU
Perihelion 0.9028 AU
0.98953 AU
Eccentricity 0.0877
0.98 y (359.536 d)
186.20°
Inclination 4.97°
38.708°
347.76°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 20-40 m[a][5]
25.2[2]

    2012 FC71, also written 2012 FC71, is a small asteroid trapped in a Kozai resonance with the Earth.[6]

    Discovery, orbit and physical properties

    It was discovered on March 31, 2012 by A. Boattini observing for the Mt. Lemmon Survey.[7][8] Its orbit is characterized by low eccentricity (0.088), low inclination (4.97º) and a semi-major axis of 0.9895 AU;[8] It is an Aten asteroid but also an Earth crosser. As of May 11, 2013 its orbit is based on 35 observations spanning a data-arc of 21 days.

    Kozai resonator and future orbital evolution

    2012 FC71 is locked in a Kozai resonance and as such it has a very slow orbital evolution and it will remain relatively unperturbed for hundreds of thousands of years.[6] It had a close encounter with the Earth on April 18, 2012 at 0.076 AU and it will have another one on May 21, 2013 at 0.057 AU.

    Origin

    It may have been originated within the Venus-Earth-Mars region or in the main asteroid belt like other Near-Earth Objects, then transition to Amor-class asteroid before entering Earth's co-orbital region.[6]

    See also

    Notes

    • ^ This is assuming an albedo of 0.20–0.04.

    References

    Further reading

    External links