2001 AV43 is a very small, monolithic asteroid and fast rotator, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 30 meters (98 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 5 January 2001, by astronomers of the LINEAR program at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States.[1] The presumed S-type asteroid has a rotation period of only 10 minutes.[3] It has an exceptionally low MOID of 0.66 lunar distance (LD) and will approach Earth at 0.81 LD on 11 November 2029.[2]
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | LINEAR |
| Discovery site | Lincoln Laboratory ETS |
| Discovery date | 5 January 2001 |
| Designations | |
| 2001 AV43 | |
| NEO · Apollo[1][2] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 13.23 yr (4,834 d) |
| Aphelion | 1.5929 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.9744 AU |
| 1.2836 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.2409 |
| 1.45 yr (531 d) | |
| 256.05° | |
| 0° 40m 39.72s / day | |
| Inclination | 0.2013° |
| 20.505° | |
| 51.311° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0017 AU · 0.66 LD |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 0.03 km (derived)[3] | |
| 0.1701 h (612 s)[3][4] | |
| 0.20 (assumed)[3] | |
| S (assumed)[3] | |
| 24.6[1][2] 24.9[3] | |
Orbit and classification
edit2001 AV43 is a member of the dynamical Apollo group,[2][1] which are Earth-crossing asteroids. Apollo asteroids are the largest subgroup of near-Earth objects. Unlike many Apollo asteroids, this asteroid is not a Mars-crosser, as its aphelion is smaller than the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.66 AU.[2]
This asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.97–1.59 AU once every 17 months (531 days; semi-major axis of 1.28 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.24 and an inclination of 0° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery found in ESO's Astrovirtel data archive (I03), in August 2000, less than 5 months prior to its official discovery observation at Socorro.[1]
Close approaches
edit2001 AV43 has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0017 AU (254,000 km), which translates into 0.7 lunar distances (LD). Due to its small size, that is, an absolute magnitude fainter than 22, this asteroid is not classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid.[2]
On 18 November 2013, the asteroid passed Earth at 2.7 LD. The angle of approach made it a good target for radar observations.[5]
On 11 November 2029, the orbit of 2001 AV43 is predicted to bring the asteroid within a nominal distance of 0.00209 AU (313,000 km; 194,000 mi) or 0.81 LD of Earth. It will also pass the Moon at an even shorter nominal distance of 0.00166 AU (248,000 km; 154,000 mi)[2]
Physical characteristics
edit2001 AV43 is an assumed stony S-type asteroid.[3]
Rotation period
editA rotational lightcurve of 2001 AV43 was obtained from photometric observations by American astronomers Robert J. Whiteley, Carl Hergenrother and David Tholen. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 0.1701 hours (612 second) with a brightness amplitude of 0.26 magnitude (U=2).[3][4] With such a short period, it is a notable fast rotator. The observers classified it as a "monolithic fast-rotating asteroid" (MFRA).[4]
Diameter and albedo
editThe Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and derives a diameter of 0.03 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 24.9.[3]
Numbering and naming
editAs of 2018, this minor planet has neither been numbered nor named.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "2001 AV43". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2001 AV43)" (2013-11-24 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "LCDB Data for 2001 AV43". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Whiteley, R. J.; Hergenrother, C. W.; Tholen, D. J. (November 2002). "Monolithic fast-rotating asteroids". Proceedings of Asteroids. 500: 473–480. Bibcode:2002ESASP.500..473W. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ Jim Borg (16 November 2013). "Asteroid to make 'close' pass to Earth on Monday". Star Advertiser.
External links
edit- Table of Asteroids Next Closest Approaches to the Earth, Sormano Astronomical Observatory
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
- Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
- Forthcoming Close Approaches To The Earth – Minor Planet Center
- 2001 AV43 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 2001 AV43 at ESA–space situational awareness
- 2001 AV43 at the JPL Small-Body Database
