2014 HQ124

2014 HQ124

2014 HQ124 radar images (8 June 2014)
Discovery[1]
Discovered by NEOWISE (C51)
Discovery date 23 April 2014
Designations
MPC designation 2014 HQ124
Aten NEO,
PHA[2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 2014-May-23
(Uncertainty=2)[2]
Aphelion 1.072 AU (Q)
Perihelion 0.6297 AU (q)
0.8510 AU (a)
Eccentricity 0.2601
0.79 yr
215.3° (M)
Inclination 26.33°
257.6°
144.3°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions ~370 meters (1,210 ft)[3]
~20 hr[4][5]
Albedo 0.35?[5]
19.0[2]

    2014 HQ124 (also written 2014 HQ124) is a near-Earth asteroid roughly 370 meters (1,210 ft) in diameter that passed 3.25 lunar distances (LD) from Earth on 8 June 2014.[6] It was discovered on 23 April 2014 by NEOWISE.[1] It is estimated that an impact event would produce the equivalent of 2,000 megatons of TNT and create a 5 km (3 mi) impact crater.[7] The news media misleadingly nicknamed it, The Beast.[8] 2014 HQ124 previously passed this close to Earth in 1952[6] and will not again until at least 2307.[9] Radar imaging suggests it may be a contact binary.[3]

    2014 close approach

    On 6 June 2014, the asteroid brightened to about apparent magnitude 13.7 while in the southern constellation of Horologium.[10] Near its closest approach to Earth of 3.25 Lunar distances on 8 June 2014, the asteroid crossed the celestial equator, making it a northern hemisphere object. It however had an elongation of about 20 degrees from the Sun,[10] and was lost in astronomical twilight during the closest approach to Earth. The Goldstone Deep Space Network observed the asteroid later on 8 June 2014,[5] when the asteroid was between 3.6 and 3.8 lunar distances.[3]

    On average, an object about the size of 2014 HQ124 will pass this close to Earth every few years.[11] Similar events, where other 100+ meter diameter asteroids have or will soon pass less than 4 LD from Earth, include:

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "MPEC 2014-H67 : 2014 HQ124". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2014-06-03. (K14HC4Q)
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2014 HQ124)" (last observation: 2014-06-02; arc: 40 days). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dyches, Preston (2014-06-12). "Giant Telescopes Pair Up to Image Near-Earth Asteroid". JPL news. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
    4. ↑ Amy Mainzer (2014-06-12). "Light curve from NEOWISE". Twitter: Amy Mainzer. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Dr. Lance A. M. Benner (2014-05-30). "Goldstone Radar Observations Planning: 2014 HQ124". NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2014 HQ124)" (last observation: 2014-06-10; arc: 48 days). Retrieved 2014-06-10.
    7. ↑ Mike Wall (2014-06-06). ""Beast" Asteroid to Fly by Earth on Sunday". Scientific American. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
    8. ↑ https://twitter.com/AreciboRadar/status/475709720842366977
    9. ↑ "This was the closest Earth encounter by the object until at least 2307.". Twitter: Michael Busch. 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "2014HQ124 Ephemerides for 4 June 2014 through 10 June 2014". NEODyS (Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 2014-06-03.
    11. ↑ "Asteroid Discovered by NASA to Pass Earth Safely". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
    12. ↑ "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2014 EG45)" (last observation: 2014-04-04; arc: 24 days). Retrieved 2014-06-03.
    13. ↑ "JPL Close-Approach Data: 357439 (2004 BL86)" (last observation: 2013-03-12; arc: 9.1 years). Retrieved 2014-06-03.

    External links