2012 BX34 is a small Aten asteroid that made one of the closest recorded asteroid close approaches of Earth on 27 January 2012. It passed within 0.0004371 AU (65,390 km; 40,630 mi) of Earth during its closest approach at 15:25 GMT.[6] 2012 BX34 measures around 8 meters (26 ft) across; if it had impacted in 2012, it would have been too small to pass through Earth's atmosphere intact.[7]
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Catalina Sky Survey |
| Discovery date | 25 January 2012 |
| Designations | |
| Aten | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 3 | |
| Aphelion | 1.0332 AU (154.56 Gm) (Q) |
| Perihelion | 0.48892 AU (73.141 Gm) (q) |
| 0.76105 AU (113.851 Gm) (a) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.35757 (e) |
| 0.66 yr (242.5 d) | |
Average orbital speed | 1.48200135°/day |
| 211.76° (M) | |
| 1.4845°/day (n) | |
| Inclination | 10.527° (i) |
| 306.74° (Ω) | |
| 335.834° (ω) | |
| Earth MOID | 0.000288322 AU (43,132.4 km) |
| Jupiter MOID | 4.09701 AU (612.904 Gm) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | ~8 meters (26 ft)[3][4] |
| 1.80828 h (0.075345 d)[2] | |
| ~13.9[5] to 30.3 | |
| 27.6[2] | |
During its 2012 close approach to Earth, 2012 BX34 had a brightest apparent magnitude of about 13.9,[5] making it about as bright as the dwarf planet Pluto. By 25 February 2012, it had dimmed to magnitude 30.[1] During its close approach of 0.0246 AU (3,680,000 km; 2,290,000 mi) on 28 January 2014,[6] it will only reach a magnitude of about 23.[8] 2012 BX34 has been observed in more detail using radar astronomy.[9]
2012 BX34 · Sun · Earth
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "MPEC 2012-B62 : 2012 BX34". IAU Minor Planet Center. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ a b c "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2012 BX34)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "Images taken by legendary comet and asteroid hunter Rob McNaught tonight using T17 in Spain". iTelescope. 27 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ Dr. Lance A. M. Benner (26 January 2012). "2012 BX34 Goldstone Radar Observations Planning". NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ a b "NEODyS 2012BX34 Ephemerides for 27 January 2012". AstDyS-2 (Asteroids – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ a b "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2012 BX34)". 27 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ AsteroidWatch (26 January 2012). "It wouldn't get through our atmosphere intact even if it dared to try". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "NEODyS 2012BX34 Ephemerides for 28 January 2014". AstDyS-2 (Asteroids – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 30 January 2012.
- ^ "Radar-Detected Asteroids and Comets". NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
External links
edit- "Zippy little asteroid 2012 BX34 makes a quick visit". Astro Bob. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- 2012 BX34 – Close Approach. (Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes). 27 January 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- "Asteroid makes near-miss fly-by". BBC. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- "Bus-Size Asteroid Buzzes Earth in Close Flyby". Space.com. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- 2012 BX34 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 2012 BX34 at ESA–space situational awareness
- 2012 BX34 at the JPL Small-Body Database