2017 QC36

2017 QC36 is a near-Earth object and a potentially hazardous asteroid of the Aten group, It measures approximately 200 meters (660 feet) in diameter and was briefly observed by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer on 18 August 2017 before it became a lost asteroid on the following day. As of 2020 the object has not been recovered.

2017 QC36
Discovery[1]
Discovered byWISE
Discovery siteLow Earth orbit
Discovery date18 August 2017
(first observation only)
Designations
2017 QC36
Orbital characteristics [3]
Epoch 19 August 2017 (JD 2457984.5)
Uncertainty parameter 9[3] · E[1]
Observation arc<1 day
Aphelion1.06±0.05 AU
Perihelion0.50±0.09 AU
0.78±0.04 AU
Eccentricity0.36±0.14
252±19 days
219°±59°
1° 25m 42s ± 0° 6m 36s / day
Inclination30°±72°
141°±21°
353°±29°
Earth MOID0.041 AU (16 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter

    Description

    This asteroid was first observed by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope which was placed into Low Earth Orbit in 2009. The asteroid's observation by WISE occurred on 18 August 2017, when it was less than 1 AU from Earth[1] and had a solar elongation of 92°.[6] The accuracy of the WISE data has been both challenged and reaffirmed in published scientific papers.

    There are wide variations in the absolute magnitude cataloged by various sources such as the Sentry List and the Minor Planet Center, leading to an estimated mean diameter for the asteroid of 83 to 270 meters (270 to 890 feet).[1][4][5] These variations in absolute magnitude are in addition to the uncertainty in the size estimate caused by the uncertainty in the albedo which is generally assumed to be 0.14,[2][4] but typically vary from 0.05 to 0.25 for a body of carbonaceous and stony composition, respectively.

    2017 QC36 is an Aten asteroid, meaning that it is an Earth-crossing asteroid that has an orbit smaller than the orbit of the Earth. It has become a lost asteroid,[7] as it has not been seen since 2017.[1] With an observation arc of only 0.46 days,[4] the object has a poorly determined orbit. This is indicated by an uncertainty parameter or condition code of 9[3] (orbit uncertainty estimate is 0−9, with 0 being good, and 9 being highly uncertain).

    Close encounters

    As a near-Earth object and a potentially hazardous asteroid – meaning that it has an orbit that can make close approaches to the Earth and large enough to cause significant regional damage in the event of impact – it is in both the Risk List[2] of the European Space Agency (ESA) - Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and in the Sentry List[8] of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) – Center for Near Earth Object Studies. According to the Sentry List, of the possible close encounters with Earth in the foreseeable future, an encounter on 20 February 2024 has the highest Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale value.[4]

    According to the Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site, of the possible close encounters with Earth in the foreseeable future, an encounter on 31 July 2024 is the most likely.[9] This encounter has a minimum possible distance of zero, meaning that an impact onto Earth is possible.

    See also

    References
    1. "2017 QC36". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    2. "ESA space situational awareness 2017QC36". European Space Agency. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    3. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2017 QC36)" (2017-08-19 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    4. "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring – Object Details 2017 QC36". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    5. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    6. "JPL HORIZONS Web–Interface (2017 QC36)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    7. "NEODyS-2 Risk List". SpaceDys. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    8. "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring – Impact Risk Data". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    9. "NEODyS-2 – Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site – 2017QC36 – Close Approaches". SpaceDys. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.