2018 CF2

2018 CF2 is a micro-asteroid and near-Earth object of the Apollo group on an eccentric orbit with has an estimated 4–15 meters (10–50 ft). It was first observed on 7 February 2018, by astronomers of the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, United States.[1] The discovery occurred the day after its sub-lunar passage as it approached the Earth from a sunward direction, and this flyby altered the asteroid's orbit slightly.

2018 CF2
The orbit before and after its 2018-flyby
Discovery [1]
Discovered byMLS
Discovery siteMount Lemmon Obs.
Discovery date7 February 2018
Designations
2018 CF2
NEO · Apollo [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 7
Observation arc2 days
Aphelion2.7662 AU
Perihelion0.9089 AU
1.8375 AU
Eccentricity0.5054
2.49 yr (910 days)
29.432°
0° 23m 44.52s / day
Inclination16.284°
137.68°
320.19°
Earth MOID0.00077 AU (0.30 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
4–15 m[3]
7 m (est. at 0.20)[4]
14 m (est. at 0.057)[4]
28.036[2]

    Orbit and classification

    2018 CF2 belongs to the Apollo asteroids, the largest group of near-Earth objects with nearly 10 thousand known members, which cross the orbit of Earth.

    Based on a high uncertainty, it orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.91–2.77 AU once every 2 years and 6 months (910 days; semi-major axis of 1.84 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.51 and an inclination of 16° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] With an aphelion of 2.77 AU, it is also a Mars-crosser, as it crosses the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.666 AU. The body's observation arc begins at Mount Lemmon with its first observation on 7 February 2018.[1]

    2018 flyby

    On 6 February 2018, 18:45 UTC, the day before its first observation, it had a flyby with the Earth at a nominal distance of 0.25 lunar distances (LD).[3] Its next close approach to Earth is projected to occur on 23 January 2023, at 0.111 AU (43 LD).[2] After the 2018-passage, the body's minimum orbital intersection distance with Earth increased to 0.30 LD (0.00077 AU).[2]

    2018 flyby: Path in sky with daily motion south to north (left). View of path across earth-moon system, moving from south to north (right).

    Physical characteristics

    The Minor Planet Center estimates a diameter of 4–15 meters (10–50 ft).[3] Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion using an absolute magnitude of 28.036,[2] the body measures between 7 and 14 meters in diameter for an assumed albedo of 0.057 and 0.20, which represent typical values for carbonaceous and stony asteroids, respectively.[4]

    As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of 2018 CF2 has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[2]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet has not yet been numbered.[1]

    gollark: PIERB policy.
    gollark: Consume bees?
    gollark: I can only do that very inconsistently so I end up just not doing lots of valuable things.
    gollark: Really, the most something people are those who can actually focus on lots of work and don't have horrible mental issues resulting from it.
    gollark: Hmmm.

    See also

    References
    1. "2018 CF2". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2018 CF2)" (2018-02-09 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
    3. Minor Planet Center. "2018 CF2". Twitter. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
    4. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 22 February 2018.

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