1998 KY26

1998 KY26

Three views of a computer model of asteroid 1998 KY26
Discovery [1][2]
Discovered by Spacewatch
(Tom Gehrels)[3]
Discovery site Kitt Peak Obs.
Discovery date 28 May 1998
(discovery: first observed only)
Designations
MPC designation 1998 KY26
NEO · Apollo [1][4]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc 11 days
Aphelion 1.4816 AU
Perihelion 0.9841 AU
1.2329 AU
Eccentricity 0.2018
1.37 yr (500 days)
359.56°
0° 43m 12s / day
Inclination 1.4810°
84.366°
209.37°
Earth MOID 0.0024 AU · 0.93 LD
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 0.03 km[5]
0.1782 h[6]
0.1784 h[5][7]
0.12[5]
0.124 (derived)[4]
X [4]
25.0[6] · 25.5[1][4][5]

    1998 KY26 is a spherical sub-kilometer asteroid and fast rotator, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 30 meters in diameter. It was first observed on 2 June 1998, by the Spacewatch survey at Kitt Peak National Observatory during 6 days, while it passed 800,000 kilometers (half a million miles) away from Earth (a little more than twice the Earth–Moon distance).[2][3]

    Orbit and classification

    The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.0–1.5 AU once every 16 months (500 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.20 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic. It has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0024 AU (359,000 km), which translates into 0.93 lunar distances.[1]

    It is one of the most easily accessible objects in the Solar System,[8] and its orbit frequently brings it on a path very similar to the optimum Earth–Mars transfer orbit.[1] This, coupled with the fact that it is water rich, makes it an attractive target for further study and a potential source of water for future missions to Mars.[9]

    Physical properties

    1998 KY26 has been characterized as a potentially metallic X-type asteroid.[4]

    Lightcurve

    With a rotation period of 10.7 minutes it has one of the shortest sidereal days of any known object in the Solar System, and cannot possibly be a rubble pile.[6][5][7]

    1998 KY26 is the smallest Solar System object ever studied in detail and, with a rotational period of 10.7 minutes, was the fastest-spinning object observed at the time of its discovery: most asteroids with established rotational rates have periods measured in hours. It was the first recognized minor object that spins so fast that it must be a monolithic object rather than a rubble pile, as many asteroids are thought to be. Since it was found to be a fast rotator, several other small asteroids have been found to also have short rotation periods, some even faster than 1998 KY26.

    Optical and radar observations indicate that 1998 KY26 is a water-rich object.[9]

    These physical properties were measured by an international team of astronomers led by Dr. Steven J. Ostro of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The team used a radar telescope in California and optical telescopes in the Czech Republic, Hawaii, Arizona and California.

    Further reading

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (1998 KY26)" (1998-06-08 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    2. 1 2 "1998 KY26". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    3. 1 2 "Spacewatch discovery of 1998 KY26". SPACEWATCH Project. 7 April 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    4. 1 2 3 4 5 "LCDB Data for (1998 KY26)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ostro, Steven J.; Pravec, Petr; Benner, Lance A. M.; Hudson, R. Scott; Sarounová, Lenka; Hicks, Michael D.; et al. (June 1999). "Radar and Optical Observations of Asteroid 1998 KY26". Science. 285: 557–559(SciHomepage). Bibcode:1999Sci...285..557O. doi:10.1126/science.285.5427.557. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    6. 1 2 3 Hicks, M. D.; Weissman, P. R.; Rabinowitz, D. L.; Chamberlin, A. B.; Buratti, B. J.; Lee, C. O. (September 1998). "Close Encounters: Observations of the Earth-crossing Asteroids 1998 KY26 and 1998 ML14.". American Astronomical Society. 30: 1029. Bibcode:1998DPS....30.1006H. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    7. 1 2 Pravec, P.; Sarounova, L. (June 1998). "1998 KY26". IAU Circ. (6941). Bibcode:1998IAUC.6941....2P. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    8. ↑ "1998 KY26". Retrieved 25 April 2009.
    9. 1 2 "Astronomy Picture of the Day: Asteroid 1998 KY26". Nasa. 2002-09-19. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
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