(467336) 2002 LT₃₈

(467336) 2002 LT₃₈, is a sub-kilometer asteroid and suspected tumbler, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Aten group, approximately 240 meters (790 ft) in diameter. It was discovered on 12 June 2002, by astronomers of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States.[2]

(467336) 2002 LT₃₈

Discovery [1][2]
Discovered by	LINEAR
Discovery site	Lincoln Lab's ETS
Discovery date	12 June 2002
Designations
MPC designation	(467336) 2002 LT38
Alternative designations	2002 LT38
Minor planet category	NEO · Aten · PHA [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	14.09 yr (5,148 days)
Aphelion	1.1103 AU
Perihelion	0.5799 AU
Semi-major axis	0.8451 AU
Eccentricity	0.3138
Orbital period	0.78 yr (284 days)
Mean anomaly	316.03°
Mean motion	1° 16^m 7.32^s / day
Inclination	6.1959°
Longitude of ascending node	259.41°
Argument of perihelion	162.73°
Earth MOID	0.0344 AU (13.4 LD)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	0.236 km (calculated)[3] 0.240 km (est. at 0.20)[4]
Rotation period	21.80±0.05 h[5][lower-alpha 1]
Geometric albedo	0.20 (assumed)[3]
Spectral type	S (assumed)[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)	20.5[1][3]

Orbit and classification

2002 LT₃₈ orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.6–1.1 AU once every 9 months (284 days; semi-major axis of 0.85 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.31 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at AMOS on 10 June 2002, two nights prior to its official discovery observation at Lincoln Lab's ETS.[2]

Close approaches

2002 LT₃₈ has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0344 AU (5,150,000 km) which corresponds to 13.4 lunar distances.[1] It will pass at that distance during its close encounter with Earth on 27 June 2030.[1]

Physical characteristics

The asteroid is an assumed stony S-type asteroid.[3]

Rotation period

In July 2016, a first rotational lightcurve of 2002 LT₃₈ was obtained from photometric observations by American astronomer Brian Warner at his Palmer Divide Station in California (U82). Lightcurve analysis gave a longer-than average rotation period of 21.80 hours with a brightness variation of 1.16 magnitude (U=2+).[5][lower-alpha 1] A high brightness amplitude typically indicates that the body has a non-spherical, elongated shape. It is also a suspected tumbler.[5]

Diameter and albedo

The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 0.236 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 20.5.[3]

Numbering and naming

This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 21 May 2016, after its orbit determination became sufficiently secure (M.P.C. 100286).[6] As of 2018, it has not been named.[2]

Notes

1. Lightcurve plot of (467336) 2002 LT₃₈ by Brian Warner, Palmer Divide Station, California (2016). Rotation period 21.80±0.05 hours with a brightness amplitude of 1.16±0.05 mag. Quality Code of 2+. Summary figures at the LCDB. Observers comment: "There may be some indications of tumbling in the lightcurve, for example, the 'break' in the Fourier curve around 0.45 rotation phase".

References

1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 467336 (2002 LT38)" (2016-07-14 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
2. "467336 (2002 LT38)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
3. "LCDB Data for (467336)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 23 November 2017.
4. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
5. Warner, Brian D. (January 2017). "Near-Earth Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at CS3-Palmer Divide Station: 2016 July-September". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 44 (1): 22–36. Bibcode:2017MPBu...44...22W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
6. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 23 November 2017.

External links

• List Of Aten Minor Planets (by designation), Minor Planet Center
• List of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs), Minor Planet Center
• PHA Close Approaches To The Earth, Minor Planet Center
• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info)
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets (465001)-(470000) – Minor Planet Center
• (467336) 2002 LT38 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Obs prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Obs info · Close · Physical info · NEOCC
• (467336) 2002 LT38 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters