2017 AG13 is a small Aten asteroid that made a close approach of 0.54 lunar distances from Earth on January 9, 2017.[4] It was the largest asteroid to pass less than 1 lunar distance from Earth since 2016 QA2 on August 28, 2016. The Catalina Sky Survey observed it first on January 7, 2017, only two days before its closest approach. At its brightest, 2017 AG13 reached apparent magnitude 12.2.[1][2] Shortly after, it moved too close to the Sun to be seen by telescopes.
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | CSS |
| Discovery site | Catalina Stn. |
| Discovery date | January 7, 2017 (first observed only) |
| Designations | |
| 2017 AG13 | |
| NEO · Aten[1][2] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 6[2] · 5[1] | |
| Observation arc | 2 days |
| Aphelion | 1.3762 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.5500 AU |
| 0.9631 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.4289 |
| 345 days | |
| 84.963° | |
| 1° 2m 34.08s / day | |
| Inclination | 16.453° |
| 289.25° | |
| 297.92° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.000132757 AU (0.0517 LD) |
| Venus MOID | 0.06864 AU[1] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 15–36 m (est. at 0.30–0.05)[3] | |
| 26.1[1][2] | |
The asteroid frequently makes close approaches to Earth, possibly passing as close as 127,000 kilometres (79,000 mi) to Earth on January 9, 2069, however it will most likely pass much farther away.[2][5]
Based on an absolute magnitude of 26.1, 2017 AG13 is likely 15–36 metres (49–118 feet) across, assuming a typical asteroid albedo of between 0.05 and 0.3.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "2017 AG13". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2017 AG13)" (2017-01-09 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ "Newly discovered asteroid 2017 AG13 to flyby Earth at 0.53 LD". The Watchers - Daily news service. January 8, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ "Asteroid 2017 AG13 – Close approaches". NeoDyS-2, Asteroids – Dynamic Site. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
External links
edit- Minor Planet Center flyby diagram
- Newfound Asteroid Gives Earth a Close Shave (space.com)
- Asteroid 2017 AG13 passed between the Earth and Moon and we hardly noticed, redorbit.com, April 17, 2018
- 2017 AG13 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 2017 AG13 at ESA–space situational awareness
- 2017 AG13 at the JPL Small-Body Database
