2012 TC4

2012 TC4
Discovery[1]
Discovered by Pan-STARRS F51
Discovery date October 4, 2012
Designations
Apollo
NEO
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch
December 9, 2014
(JD 2457000.5)
Aphelion 1.87746 AU
±0.000045722
Perihelion 0.93389 AU
±0.000013624
1.40567 AU
±0.000034233
Eccentricity 0.33563
±0.00002585
1.66775 a (608.73 days)
85.40°
±0.01749
Inclination 0.8558°
±0.000267
198.2605°
±0.00018222
222.563°
±0.0032851
Known satellites none
Earth MOID 0.000204 AU (0.079 LD)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 12-27 m[3] 12-19 m[4]
00:12:13.68 HH:MM:SS[5]
26.7[1][2]

    2012 TC4 is an Apollo near-Earth asteroid that will make a close approach to Earth early on October 12, 2017 between 0.00008818 and 0.002896 AU (0.034 to 1.127 LD, 13200–433200 km, 8200-269200 mi.)[6]

    The asteroid, however, only has an observation arc of 7 days, between October 4, 2012, and October 11th, 2012, so the exact distance of its closest approach is uncertain. The asteroid has been known to make many close approaches to Earth in the past, including an approach of 0.000634 AU (0.247 LD, 94,800 km, 58,900 mi) on October 12, 2012, during which the asteroid was discovered.

    Rotation

    Studies of the asteroid's light curve found it to have a rotation period of approximately 12 minutes and 14 seconds,[5] relatively slow for the asteroid's size (10-20 meter) as small asteroids have been found to rotate much faster; asteroid 2014 RC, a similarly-sized NEO, has a rotation period of only 16 seconds.

    References

    1. 1 2 "IAU Minor Planet Center - 2012 TC4". Minor Planet Center. IAU. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
    2. 1 2 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser - 2012 TC3". JPL. NASA. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
    3. "Glossary: Absolute Magnitude (H)". JPL. NASA. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
    4. Bruton, Dan. "Conversion of Absolute Magnitude to Diameter". http://www.physics.sfasu.edu. sfasu.edu. Retrieved 22 October 2014. External link in |website= (help)
    5. 1 2 "Polishook 2013, MPB 40, 42". ADS. Minor Planet Bulletin. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
    6. "Close Approach table of 2012 TC4". JPL. NASA. Retrieved 22 October 2014.

    External links


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