Astronomy:2018 CF2

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2018 CF2
2018 CF2-orbit2018.png
The orbit before and after its 2018-flyby
Discovery[1]
Discovered byMLS
Discovery siteMount Lemmon Obs.
Discovery date7 February 2018
Designations
2018 CF2
Minor planet categoryNEO · Apollo[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 7
Observation arc2 days
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}2.7662 AU
|{{{apsis}}}|helion}}0.9089 AU
1.8375 AU
Eccentricity0.5054
Orbital period2.49 yr (910 days)
Mean anomaly29.432°
Mean motion0° 23m 44.52s / day
Inclination16.284°
Longitude of ascending node137.68°
320.19°
Earth MOID0.00077 AU (0.30 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter4–15 m[3]
7 m (est. at 0.20)[4]
14 m (est. at 0.057)[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)28.036[2]


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.

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]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "2018 CF2". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=2018+CF2. Retrieved 22 February 2018. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2018 CF2)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=3799280;cad=1. Retrieved 22 February 2018. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Minor Planet Center. "2018 CF2". Twitter. https://twitter.com/MinorPlanetCtr/status/962433652205477888. Retrieved 22 February 2018. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/ast_size_est.html. Retrieved 22 February 2018. 

External links



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