(523662) 2012 MU2

(523662) 2012 MU2, provisional designation 2012 MU2, is a sub-kilometer asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group.[2] It was discovered on 18 June 2012 by astronomers of the Catalina Sky Survey at an apparent magnitude of 19.9 using a 0.68-meter (27 in) Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope.[4] It has an estimated diameter of 240 meters (790 ft).[3] The asteroid was listed on Sentry Risk Table with a Torino Scale rating of 1 on 23 June 2012.[3]

(523662) 2012 MU2
Discovery [1]
Discovered byCatalina Sky Srvy.
Discovery siteCatalina Stn.
Discovery date18 June 2012
Designations
(523662) 2012 MU2
2012 MU2
Apollo · NEO · PHA [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc6.23 yr (2,277 d)
Aphelion3.1119 AU
Perihelion0.9987 AU
2.0553 AU
Eccentricity0.5141
2.95 yr (1,076 d)
114.89°
0° 20m 4.2s / day
Inclination11.222°
250.33°
16.587°
Earth MOID0.0011 AU (0.43 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
240 m (est.)[3]
20.8[1][2]

    Orbit and classification

    2012 MU2 is a member of the Apollo asteroids, a group of near-Earth objects with an Earth-crossing orbit. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.0–3.1 AU once every 2 years and 11 months (1,076 days; semi-major axis of 2.06 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.51 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]

    On 24 June 2012 with an observation arc of 6 days, 2012 MU2 showed a 1 in 7,140 chance of impacting Earth on 1 June 2015. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on the next day (25 June).[5]

    With an observation arc of 113 days, the JPL Small-Body Database (solution JPL 42 dated 2013-Aug-05) shows that 2012 MU2 may make a very close approach to asteroid 29 Amphitrite on 8 April 2179.[6] The minimum approach distance is about 0.000032 AU (4,800 km; 3,000 mi), but the maximum distance is 0.14 AU (21,000,000 km; 13,000,000 mi).[6] The nominal approach is 0.047 AU (7,000,000 km; 4,400,000 mi).[6]

    The Earth approach in 2015 occurred on 15 May 2015 at a distance of 0.11485 AU (17,181,000 km; 10,676,000 mi).[6]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 25 September 2018 (M.P.C. 111778).[7] As of 2018, it has not been named.[1]

    gollark: It's a function of Lyricly to apioforms.
    gollark: BEEEEEEEEEEEEE you.
    gollark: I didn't look at it, because I inferred you were providing the answer.
    gollark: I have not worked it out yet.
    gollark: We have threads.

    References
    1. "523662 (2012 MU2)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 523662 (2012 MU2)" (2018-09-12 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
    3. "Observations of small Solar-System bodies (2012 MU2)". hohmanntransfer. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
    4. "MPEC 2012-M24 : 2012 MU2". IAU Minor Planet Center. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013. (K12M02U)
    5. "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
    6. "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2012 MU2)" (last observation: 2015-06-14; arc: 1091 days). Retrieved 3 July 2015.
    7. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 9 October 2018.

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