2017_VR12

<span class="nowrap">2017 VR<sub>12</sub></span>

2017 VR12

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2017 VR12 is a sub-kilometer asteroid with a somewhat elongated and angular shape, approximately 160 meters (500 feet) in diameter. It is classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo or Amor group.[lower-alpha 1] The V-type asteroid has a rotation period of approximately 1.5 hours.[5] It was first observed on 10 November 2017 by the 60-inch Pan-STARRS 1 telescope at Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii.[2][3]

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Orbit and classification

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.0–1.7 AU once every 1 years and 7 months (585 days; semi-major axis of 1.37 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.27 and an inclination of 9° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] 2017 VR12 is a V-type asteroid with a bright surface.[1]

2018 flyby

Orbit of 2017 VR12
Animation of 2017 VR12's orbit from 1 October 2016 to 1 October 2018
   2017 VR12 ·   Mercury ·   Venus ·   Earth ·   Mars

2017 VR12 passed 0.0097 AU (3.76 lunar distances) from Earth on 7 March 2018, the closest approach by this asteroid currently known. It brightened to 12th magnitude, making it one of the brightest Near Earth asteroids of the year. It was observed by radar from Goldstone, Green Bank and Arecibo Observatory. Images revealed that 2017 VR12 is a slightly elongated and angular body with a size of approximately 160 by 100 meters.[1][6][4]

Physical characteristics

Images obtained at Green Bank and Arecibo observatories in 2018, revealed that 2017 VR12 is a slightly elongated and angular body with a size of approximately 160 by 100 meters.[1][6][4]

Rotation period

On 5 March 2018, a rotational lightcurve was obtained from photometric observations by astronomers at the Northolt Branch Observatories. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 1.5 hours with a brightness amplitude between 0.4 and 0.5 magnitude (U=n.a).[5]

  • 2017 VR12, imaged at Northolt Branch Observatories on 15 February 2018. The asteroid is visible at 17th magnitude at this point, at a distance of 10.4 million km (6.5 million mi) from Earth. The image is inverted (stars appear dark, the background appears light).[7]
  • 2017 VR12 on 26 February 2018. The asteroid is visible at 15th magnitude, at a distance of 4.8 million km (3.0 million miles) from Earth. The telescope is tracking the asteroid, causing stars to trail as the asteroid slowly moves across the sky.[8]
  • 2017 VR12 on 5 March 2018, two days before closest approach. The asteroid was 1.9 million km (1.2 million mi) from Earth at that time, visible at 13th magnitude.[9][6]
  • Daily motion outside Moon's orbit.
  • Motion across the sky from north to south during the 6 hours around closest approach.

Notes

  1. It is either an Amor or an Apollo asteroid, depending on the definition of those orbital classes: JPL SBDB defines Apollo asteroids as those with a perihelion of less than 1.017 AU (smaller than Earth's aphelion),[lower-alpha 2] while the MPC uses a threshold of 1.000 AU (Earth's semi-major axis). 2017 VR12's perihelion is 1.0004 AU.

References

  1. [1]
    "Goldstone Radar Observations Planning: Asteroid 2017 VR12". NASA. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. [2]
    "2017 VR12". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  3. [3]
    "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2017 VR12)" (2018-02-28 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  4. [4]
    #TeamRadar at @NAICobservatory observed asteroid 2017 VR12 last night. 3:05 PM - 6 Mar 2018
  5. [5]
    Wells, G.; Bamberger, D. (5 March 2018). "Lightcurve of 2017 VR12". Northolt Branch Observatories. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  6. [6]
    Hignett, Katherine (6 March 2018). "2017 VR12: Asteroid Could Be Bigger Than the Empire State Building—Here's How to See It". newsweek.com. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  7. [7]
    "Near Earth asteroid 2017 VR12". Northolt Branch Observatories. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  8. [8]
    "Near Earth asteroids 2017 VR12, (505657) 2014 SR339 and (508871) 2003 CN17". Northolt Branch Observatories. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  9. [9]
    "Near Earth asteroid 2017 VR12". Northolt Branch Observatories. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  10. ↑
    "NEO Groups". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 2017_VR12, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.