(179806) 2002 TD66
(179806) 2002 TD66 (also written 2002 TD66) is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group. It was discovered on 5 October 2002, by the LINEAR project at Lincoln Laboratory's ETS in Socorro, New Mexico.[1] It was announced on 7 October 2002 and appeared later that day on the JPL current risk page.
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | LINEAR |
| Discovery site | Lincoln Lab ETS |
| Discovery date | 5 October 2002 |
| Designations | |
| NEO · Apollo | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 2017 days (5.52 yr) |
| Aphelion | 2.8505 AU (426.43 Gm) (Q) |
| Perihelion | 0.86543 AU (129.466 Gm) (q) |
| 1.8580 AU (277.95 Gm) (a) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.53421 (e) |
| 2.53 yr (925.03 d) | |
| 55.037° (M) | |
| 0° 23m 21.048s / day (n) | |
| Inclination | 4.9211° (i) |
| 335.73° (Ω) | |
| 125.66° (ω) | |
| Earth MOID | 0.00603808 AU (903,284 km) |
| Jupiter MOID | 2.35661 AU (352.544 Gm) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 300 meters[2] 270–590 meters H |
| 9.455 h (0.3940 d)[2][1] | |
| 20.2[1] | |
Description
Due to the proximity of its orbit to Earth and its estimated size, this object has been classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) by the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In November 2006 there were 823 PHAs known. As of October 2011, there are 1261 PHAs known.[3] 2002 TD66 was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on October 10, 2002.[4] A Doppler observation[1] has helped produce a well known trajectory with a condition code (Uncertainty Parameter U) of 0.[1]
Based on an absolute magnitude (H) of 20.2,[1] the asteroid is estimated to be between 270 and 590 meters in diameter. Radar astronomy shows it is a contact binary asteroid with a diameter of 300 meters and a rotation period of 9.5 hours.[2]
On February 26, 2008, 2002 TD66 passed 0.04282 AU (6,406,000 km; 3,980,000 mi) from Earth.[5] The asteroid also comes close to Venus, Mars, and dwarf planet Ceres.[5]
References
- "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 179806 (2002 TD66)" (2008-04-13 last obs). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- Dr. Lance A. M. Benner (2013-11-18). "Binary and Ternary near-Earth Asteroids detected by radar". NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
- "Potentially Hazard Asteroids". Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- "JPL Close-Approach Data: 179806 (2002 TD66)" (2008-04-13 last obs). Retrieved 2006-11-01.
External links
- Orbital path diagram of 2002 TD66 (0.04 AU from Earth on 25 February 2008)
- Lightcurve plot of (179806) 2002 TD66, Palmer Divide Observatory, B. D. Warner (2008)
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info)
- Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
- Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (1)-(5000) – Minor Planet Center
- Sormano Astronomical Observatory: Minor Body Priority List
- Minimum Orbital Intersection Distance
- Closest Approaches to the Earth by Minor Planets
- (179806) 2002 TD66 at the JPL Small-Body Database
