1998 DK36

1998 DK36 is a 30-meter sized asteroid and near-Earth object that is possibly the first Apohele asteroid (Atira) – an asteroid that is always closer to the Sun than Earth – detected. It was first observed on 23 February 1998, by David J. Tholen at Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii, but is now considered a lost minor planet.[1][4]

1998 DK36
Discovery [1]
Discovered byD. Tholen
Discovery siteMauna Kea Obs.
Discovery date23 February 1998
Designations
1998 DK36
NEO · Atira [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 24 February 1998 (JD 2450868.5)
Uncertainty parameter 9
Observation arc(1 day)
Aphelion0.9802 AU
Perihelion0.4043 AU
0.6923 AU
Eccentricity0.4160
0.58 yr (210 days)
183.25°
1° 42m 40.32s / day
Inclination2.0175°
151.46°
180.04°
Earth MOID0.0084 AU · 3.3 LD
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
30 m (est. at 0.20)[3]
25.0[2]

    Although its orbital elements have not been well established, its aphelion (farthest distance from Sun) was determined to be less than the Earth's distance to the Sun (0.980 ± 0.05 AU).[2] Therefore, it has a claim to title "first Apohele detected", if not "first Apohele confirmed", which goes to 163693 Atira. This asteroid is estimated to measure 30 meters in diameter based on its absolute magnitude 25.0 and an assumed albedo of 0.20, typical for stony S-type asteroid and common among near-Earth objects.[3]

    References
    1. "1998 DK36". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (1998 DK36)" (1998-02-24 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
    3. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS/JPL. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
    4. Tholen, D.J.; R.J. Whiteley. "Update On Small Solar Elongation NEO Search". Science presentations announced for the Comm 20 sessions at GA24. Archived from the original on 25 February 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2006.


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