(143651) 2003 QO104, provisional designation 2003 QO104, is a stony asteroid, slow rotator and suspected tumbler on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Amor and Apollo group, respectively. It was discovered on 31 August 2003, by astronomers of the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking program at the Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii, United States.[1] The Q-type asteroid has a rotation period of 114.4 hours and possibly an elongated shape. It measures approximately 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) in diameter and belongs the largest potentially hazardous asteroids known to exist.[14]
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | NEAT |
| Discovery site | Haleakala Obs. |
| Discovery date | 31 August 2003 |
| Designations | |
| (143651) 2003 QO104 | |
| 2003 QO104 | |
| NEO · PHA[1][2] Apollo[2] · Amor[1] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 36.55 yr (13,349 d) |
| Aphelion | 3.2551 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.0151 AU |
| 2.1351 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.5246 |
| 3.12 yr (1,140 d) | |
| 297.32° | |
| 0° 18m 57.24s / day | |
| Inclination | 11.608° |
| 58.224° | |
| 183.53° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0042 AU (1.6362 LD) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 1.88 km (calculated)[3] 2.29±0.54 km[4] 2.31 km[5] | |
| 113.3±0.1 h[6] 114±3 h[7] 114.4±0.1 h[8][a] | |
| 0.13[5] 0.137±0.140[4] 0.14±0.12[9] 0.20 (assumed)[3] | |
| Q[10] · S (assumed)[3] B–V = 0.903±0.008[11] V–R = 0.454±0.011[11] V–I = 0.797±0.019[11] B–V = 0.880±0.020[12] V–R = 0.450±0.020[12] | |
| 16.0[2][3][5] 16.48±0.43[13] | |
Orbit and classification
edit2003 QO104 is a member of the Apollo group of asteroids, which are Earth-crossing asteroids. They are the largest group of near-Earth objects with approximately 10 thousand known members. As it just grazes the orbit of Earth, the Minor Planet Center (MPC), groups it to the non-Earth crossing Amor asteroids.[1]
It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.015–3.3 AU once every 3 years and 1 month (1,140 days; semi-major axis of 2.14 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.52 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at the Siding Spring Observatory on in July 1981, more than 18 years prior to its official discovery observation at Haleakala.[1]
Close approaches
editThe asteroid has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0042 AU (628,000 km; 390,000 mi), which corresponds to 1.6 lunar distances and makes it a potentially hazardous asteroid due to its sufficiently large size.[2] On the Torino Scale, this object was rated level 1 in early October 2003,[15] and removed on 13 October 2003.[16]
On 18 May 1985, it passed Earth at a nominal distance of 0.00709 AU (2.76 LD) which translates into 1,060,648 km (659,000 mi) and made another approach in June 2009 at a much larger distance of 37 LD.[17] In 2034, 2037 and 2062, it will pass Earth at a distance of 0.18 AU, 0.44 AU and 0.045 AU, respectively. It frequently approaches Jupiter at 1.7–2.0 AU as well.[17]
| PHA | Date | Approach distance (lunar dist.) | Abs. mag (H) |
Diameter (C) (m) |
Ref (D) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomi- nal(B) |
Mini- mum |
Maxi- mum | |||||
| (33342) 1998 WT24 | 1908-12-16 | 3.542 | 3.537 | 3.547 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
| (458732) 2011 MD5 | 1918-09-17 | 0.911 | 0.909 | 0.913 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
| (7482) 1994 PC1 | 1933-01-17 | 2.927 | 2.927 | 2.928 | 16.8 | 749–1357 | data |
| 69230 Hermes | 1937-10-30 | 1.926 | 1.926 | 1.927 | 17.5 | 668–2158 | data |
| 69230 Hermes | 1942-04-26 | 1.651 | 1.651 | 1.651 | 17.5 | 668–2158 | data |
| (137108) 1999 AN10 | 1946-08-07 | 2.432 | 2.429 | 2.435 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
| (33342) 1998 WT24 | 1956-12-16 | 3.523 | 3.523 | 3.523 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
| (163243) 2002 FB3 | 1961-04-12 | 4.903 | 4.900 | 4.906 | 16.4 | 1669–1695 | data |
| (192642) 1999 RD32 | 1969-08-27 | 3.627 | 3.625 | 3.630 | 16.3 | 1161–3750 | data |
| (143651) 2003 QO104 | 1981-05-18 | 2.761 | 2.760 | 2.761 | 16.0 | 1333–4306 | data |
| 2017 CH1 | 1992-06-05 | 4.691 | 3.391 | 6.037 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
| (170086) 2002 XR14 | 1995-06-24 | 4.259 | 4.259 | 4.260 | 18.0 | 531–1714 | data |
| (33342) 1998 WT24 | 2001-12-16 | 4.859 | 4.859 | 4.859 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
| 4179 Toutatis | 2004-09-29 | 4.031 | 4.031 | 4.031 | 15.3 | 2440–2450 | data |
| 2014 JO25 | 2017-04-19 | 4.573 | 4.573 | 4.573 | 17.8 | 582–1879 | data |
| (137108) 1999 AN10 | 2027-08-07 | 1.014 | 1.010 | 1.019 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
| (35396) 1997 XF11 | 2028-10-26 | 2.417 | 2.417 | 2.418 | 16.9 | 881–2845 | data |
| (154276) 2002 SY50 | 2071-10-30 | 3.415 | 3.412 | 3.418 | 17.6 | 714–1406 | data |
| (164121) 2003 YT1 | 2073-04-29 | 4.409 | 4.409 | 4.409 | 16.2 | 1167–2267 | data |
| (385343) 2002 LV | 2076-08-04 | 4.184 | 4.183 | 4.185 | 16.6 | 1011–3266 | data |
| (52768) 1998 OR2 | 2079-04-16 | 4.611 | 4.611 | 4.612 | 15.8 | 1462–4721 | data |
| (33342) 1998 WT24 | 2099-12-18 | 4.919 | 4.919 | 4.919 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
| (85182) 1991 AQ | 2130-01-27 | 4.140 | 4.139 | 4.141 | 17.1 | 1100 | data |
| 314082 Dryope | 2186-07-16 | 3.709 | 2.996 | 4.786 | 17.5 | 668–2158 | data |
| (137126) 1999 CF9 | 2192-08-21 | 4.970 | 4.967 | 4.973 | 18.0 | 531–1714 | data |
| (290772) 2005 VC | 2198-05-05 | 1.951 | 1.791 | 2.134 | 17.6 | 638–2061 | data |
| (A) List includes near-Earth approaches of less than 5 lunar distances (LD) of objects with H brighter than 18. (B) Nominal geocentric distance from the Earth's center to the object's center (Earth radius≈0.017 LD). (C) Diameter: estimated, theoretical mean-diameter based on H and albedo range between X and Y. (D) Reference: data source from the JPL SBDB, with AU converted into LD (1 AU≈390 LD) (E) Color codes: unobserved at close approach observed during close approach upcoming approaches | |||||||
Physical characteristics
edit2003 QO104 has been characterized as an uncommon Q-type asteroid,[10] that falls into the larger stony S-complex.[3]
Slow rotator and tumbler
editSeveral rotational lightcurve of this asteroid were obtained from photometric observations during its close approach to the Earth in 2009.[6][7][8] Analysis of the best-rated lightcurve – obtained by Brian Warner at his Palmer Divide Observatory in collaboration with Robert Stephens and Albino Carbognani – gave a well-defined rotation period of 114.4 hours with a high brightness amplitude of 1.60 magnitude (U=3), which is indicative of an elongated shape.[8][a] With a period of more than 100 hours, 2003 QO104 is a slow rotator as most asteroids typically rotate every 2 to 20 hours once around their axis. The asteroid also shows several characteristics of a non-principal axis-rotation, which is commonly known as tumbling.[7][8]
This asteroid has also been studied by radar at the Goldstone and Arecibo observatories by Lance Benner and Mike Nolan.[8][b]
Diameter and albedo
editAccording to post-cryogenic observations made by the Spitzer Space Telescope during the ExploreNEOs survey, this asteroid measures 2.29 and 2.31 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.13 and 0.14,[4][5][9] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 1.88 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 16.0.[3]
Naming
editThis minor planet was numbered by the MPC on 5 December 2006 (M.P.C. 58189).[18] As of 2018, it has not been named.[1]
Notes
edit- ^ a b Lightcurve plot of (143651) 2003 QO104 by Brian Warner at the Palmer Divide Observatory. Rotation period 114.4±0.1 hours and a brightness amplitude of 1.60±0.03 mag. Quality code of 3. Summary figures at the LCDB and the observatory's website
- ^ Radiometric observations of (143651) 2003 QO104 at the Arecibo Observatory by Mike Nolan R2421 in May 2009, and at the Goldstone Observatory by Lance Benner Planning in June 2009
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "143651 (2003 QO104)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 143651 (2003 QO104)" (2018-01-26 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "LCDB Data for (143651)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Mueller, Michael; Delbo', M.; Hora, J. L.; Trilling, D. E.; Bhattacharya, B.; Bottke, W. F.; et al. (April 2011). "ExploreNEOs. III. Physical Characterization of 65 Potential Spacecraft Target Asteroids". The Astronomical Journal. 141 (4): 9. Bibcode:2011AJ....141..109M. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/141/4/109. S2CID 44827674.
- ^ a b c d Trilling, D. E.; Mueller, M.; Hora, J. L.; Harris, A. W.; Bhattacharya, B.; Bottke, W. F.; et al. (September 2010). "ExploreNEOs. I. Description and First Results from the Warm Spitzer Near-Earth Object Survey" (PDF). The Astronomical Journal. 140 (3): 770–784. Bibcode:2010AJ....140..770T. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/140/3/770. S2CID 3006566.
- ^ a b Birtwhistle, Peter (October 2009). "Lightcurves for Five Close Approach Asteroids". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 36 (4): 186–187. Bibcode:2009MPBu...36..186B. ISSN 1052-8091.
- ^ a b c Koehn, Bruce W.; Bowell, Edward G.; Skiff, Brian A.; Sanborn, Jason J.; McLelland, Kyle P.; Pravec, Petr; et al. (October 2014). "Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Asteroid Photometric Survey (NEAPS) - 2009 January through 2009 June". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 41 (4): 286–300. Bibcode:2014MPBu...41..286K. ISSN 1052-8091.
- ^ a b c d e Warner, Brian D.; Stephens, Robert D.; Carbognani, Albino (October 2009). "Analysis of the Slow Rotator (143651) 2003 QO104". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 36 (4): 179–180. Bibcode:2009MPBu...36..179W. ISSN 1052-8091.
- ^ a b Thomas, C. A.; Trilling, D. E.; Emery, J. P.; Mueller, M.; Hora, J. L.; Benner, L. A. M.; et al. (September 2011). "ExploreNEOs. V. Average Albedo by Taxonomic Complex in the Near-Earth Asteroid Population". The Astronomical Journal. 142 (3): 12. Bibcode:2011AJ....142...85T. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/142/3/85.
- ^ a b Thomas, Cristina A.; Emery, Joshua P.; Trilling, David E.; Delbó, Marco; Hora, Joseph L.; Mueller, Michael (January 2014). "Physical characterization of Warm Spitzer-observed near-Earth objects". Icarus. 228: 217–246. arXiv:1310.2000. Bibcode:2014Icar..228..217T. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2013.10.004. S2CID 119278697.
- ^ a b c Ye, Q.-z. (February 2011). "BVRI Photometry of 53 Unusual Asteroids". The Astronomical Journal. 141 (2): 8. arXiv:1011.0133. Bibcode:2011AJ....141...32Y. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/141/2/32. S2CID 119307210.
- ^ a b Betzler, Alberto S.; Noaves, Alberto B.; Santos, Antonio C. P.; Sobral, Edvaldo G. (July 2010). "Photometric Observations of the Near-Earth Asteroids 1999 AP10 2000 TO64, 2000 UJ1, 2000 XK44, 2001 MZ7, 2003 QO104, 2005 RQ6, 2005 WJ56, and 2009 UN3". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 37 (3): 95–97. Bibcode:2010MPBu...37...95B. ISSN 1052-8091.
- ^ Veres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; Granvik, Mikael; Bolin, Bryce; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv:1506.00762. Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007. S2CID 53493339.
- ^ "List of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Major News about Minor Objects (2003 QO104)". hohmanntransfer. 27 December 2003. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "NEOs Removed from Impact Risks Tables". Near Earth Object Program. NASA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ a b "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 143651 (2003 QO104)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
External links
edit- PHA Close Approaches To The Earth, Minor Planet Center
- Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
- Retracted lightcurve of (143651) 2003 QO104, René Roy, May 2009, published by Geneva Obs., Raoul Behrend
- List Of Amor Minor Planets (by designation), Minor Planet Center
- (143651) 2003 QO104 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- (143651) 2003 QO104 at ESA–space situational awareness
- (143651) 2003 QO104 at the JPL Small-Body Database