(450894) 2008 BT18

Last updated

(450894) 2008 BT18
2008 BT18 arecibo.gif
Radar image of 2008 BT18 and its satellite from Arecibo Observatory in July 2008
Discovery [1]
Discovered by LINEAR
Discovery site Lincoln Lab's ETS
Discovery date31 January 2008
Designations
(450894) 2008 BT18
2008 BT18
Apollo  · NEO  · PHA [1] [2]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 60.59 yr (22,132 days)
Earliest precovery date14 March 1955
Aphelion 3.5401 AU
Perihelion 0.9030 AU
2.2216 AU
Eccentricity 0.5935
3.31 yr (1,209 days)
284.48°
0° 17m 51.72s / day
Inclination 8.1338°
107.67°
139.28°
Known satellites 1 [3] [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2]
Earth  MOID 0.0108 AU ·4.2 LD
Physical characteristics
Dimensions0.6 km [3] [lower-alpha 1]
0.650 km (calculated) [4]
2.726±0.007 h [5]
0.20 (assumed) [4]
V [5] [6]  · S (assumed) [4]
18.3 [1] [4]

    (450894) 2008 BT18 is a sub-kilometer asteroid and synchronous binary system, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group. It was discovered on 31 January 2008, by the LINEAR program at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, United States. [2] The eccentric asteroid measures approximately 600 meters in diameter and has a composition of a basaltic achondrite. [6]

    Contents

    In 2008, its minor-planet moon, designated S/2008 (450894) 1, was discovered by radar astronomers. It measures approximately 200 meters in diameter, or one third of its primary. [3] [lower-alpha 2]

    Orbit and classification

    2008 BT18 orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.9–3.5  AU once every 3 years and 4 months (1,209 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.59 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic. [1] Published by the Digitized Sky Survey, a first precovery was taken at Palomar Observatory in 1955, extending the asteroid's observation arc by 53 years prior to its discovery. [2]

    The asteroid has a low Earth minimum orbit intersection distance of 0.0108 AU (1,620,000 km) which corresponds to 4.2 lunar distances (LD). On 14 July 2008, it transited Earth within 0.015 AU (5.9 LD). [1]

    Physical characteristics

    2008 BT18 has been characterized as a V-type asteroid by astronomers using the SpeX spectrograph at NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, IRTF. [5] [6]

    Rotation period

    A rotational lightcurve for 2008 BT18 was obtained from photometric observations made by astronomer Alberto Silva Betzler at Salvador, Brazil, in July 2008. The lightcurve gave a rotation period of 2.726±0.007 hours with a brightness variation of 0.04 in magnitude ( U=1 ). [5]

    Binary system

    Radar image of 2008 BT18 and its satellite by Arecibo Observatory on 1 July 2008 2008bt18 jul11 arecibo.gif
    Radar image of 2008 BT18 and its satellite by Arecibo Observatory on 1 July 2008

    On 6 and 7 July 2008, research conducted using the Arecibo Observatory produced evidence that 2008 BT18 is a synchronous binary asteroid with a minor-planet moon in its orbit. The secondary component, provisionally designated S/2008 (450894) 1, has a diameter of at least 200 meters, about 33% the size of and up to 1.5 kilometers apart from its primary. [3] [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 650 meters, based on an absolute magnitude of 18.3. [4]

    There are more than 60 binary near-Earth objects known to exist (2016).

    Mineralogy

    On 26 July 2008, observations at the IRTF using the SpeX-spectrograph showed that 2008 BT18 is a basaltic achondrite, suggesting that its parent body was subjected to sufficiently high temperatures to produce a eutectic melt. [6] The body's surface is thought to be dominated by iron-rich orthopyroxenes with little or no olivine. [6]

    Naming

    As of 2017, this minor planet remains unnamed. [2]

    Notes

    1. 1 2 3 Benner (2008) web: diameter 0.6 kilometers. Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams, No. 1450, #1 (2008). Summary figures at Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) for (450894)
    2. 1 2 3 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, No. 1450, from 29 July 2008:
      Arecibo (2380-MHz, 12.6-cm) and Goldstone (8560-MHz, 3.5-cm) radar observations during July 6, 7, and 11 reveal that minor planet 2008 BT_18 (cf. MPECs 2008-C03, 2008-H06; MPO 140193) is a binary system. Preliminary estimates for the component diameters are about 0.6 km and > 200 m. The maximum distance between the components on July 11 is at least 1.5 km.
      Reported by: L. A. M. Benner, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology (CIT); M. C. Nolan and E. S. Howell, Arecibo Observatory, National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center; C. Magri, University of Maine at Farmington; J. D. Giorgini, S. J. Ostro, and M. Brozovic, JPL/CIT; M. W. Busch, CIT; J. L. Margot and P. A. Taylor, Cornell University; M. K. Shepard, Bloomsburg University; L. M. Carter, Smithsonian Institution; and T. M. Becker, Lehigh University CBET No. 1450

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1862 Apollo</span> Stony asteroid

    1862 Apollo is a stony asteroid, approximately 1.5 kilometers in diameter, classified as a near-Earth object (NEO). It was discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory on 24 April 1932, but lost and not recovered until 1973.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">66391 Moshup</span> Binary near-Earth asteroid

    66391 Moshup, provisional designation 1999 KW4, is a binary asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Aten group, approximately 1.3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 20 May 1999, by Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site in Socorro, New Mexico, United States. It is a Mercury-crosser that comes extremely close to the Sun at a perihelion of 0.2 AU.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">3752 Camillo</span>

    3752 Camillo is an inclined contact-binary asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 2.3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 15 August 1985, by astronomers Eleanor Helin and Maria Barucci using a 0.9-metre (35 in) telescope at the CERGA Observatory in Caussols, France. Lightcurve studies by Petr Pravec in 1998 suggest that the assumed S-type asteroid has an elongated shape and a longer-than average rotation period of 38 hours.

    <span class="nowrap">(185851) 2000 DP<sub>107</sub></span>

    (185851) 2000 DP107 is a sub-kilometer sized asteroid, classified as potentially hazardous asteroid and near-Earth object of the Apollo group that is notable because it provided evidence for binary asteroids in the near-Earth population. The PROCYON probe developed by JAXA and the University of Tokyo was intended to flyby this asteroid before its ion thruster failed and could not be restarted.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">(5407) 1992 AX</span>

    (5407) 1992 AX, provisional designation 1992 AX, is a stony asteroid and a synchronous binary Mars-crosser from the innermost region of the asteroid belt, approximately 3.6 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 4 January 1992, by Japanese astronomers Seiji Ueda and Hiroshi Kaneda at the Kushiro Observatory on Hokkaidō, Japan. The S-type asteroid has a short rotation period of 2.5 hours. Its sub-kilometer satellite was discovered in 1997. As of 2018, the binary system has not been named.

    <span class="nowrap">(285263) 1998 QE<sub>2</sub></span> Near-Earth asteroid

    (285263) 1998 QE2, provisional designation 1998 QE2, is a dark asteroid and synchronous binary system, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Amor group, approximately 3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 19 August 1998, by astronomers of the LINEAR program at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States. Its sub-kilometer minor-planet moon was discovered by radar on 30 May 2013.

    <span class="nowrap">(511002) 2013 MZ<sub>5</sub></span>

    (511002) 2013 MZ5, provisional designation 2013 MZ5, is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Amor group, estimated to measure approximately 300 meters (1,000 feet) in diameter. It was discovered on 18 June 2013, by astronomers with the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory on the island of Maui, Hawaii, in the United States. It was the 10,000th near-Earth object ever discovered.

    (31345) 1998 PG is an eccentric, stony asteroid and binary system, classified as near-Earth object of the Amor group of asteroids, approximately 900 meters in diameter. It minor-planet moon, S/2001 (31345) 1, has an estimated diameter of 270 meters.

    <span class="nowrap">(192642) 1999 RD<sub>32</sub></span> Asteroid and suspected contact binary

    (192642) 1999 RD32, provisional designation: 1999 RD32, is an asteroid and suspected contact binary on an eccentric orbit, classified as a large near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 8 September 1999, at a magnitude of 18, by astronomers of the LINEAR program using its 1-meter telescope at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, United States. The asteroid is likely of carbonaceous composition and has a rotation period of 17.08 hours.

    <span class="nowrap">(388188) 2006 DP<sub>14</sub></span>

    (388188) 2006 DP14, provisional designation 2006 DP14, is a sub-kilometer sized, peanut-shaped asteroid on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group. This contact binary was discovered on 23 February 2006, by astronomers of the LINEAR program at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States. On 10 February 2014, it passed 6.25 lunar distances from Earth. The asteroid is approximately 400 meters in diameter and has a rotation period of 5.77 hours.

    <span class="nowrap">2014 HQ<sub>124</sub></span>

    2014 HQ124 is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Aten group, approximately 400 meters (1,300 feet) in diameter. It passed 3.25 lunar distances (LD) from Earth on 8 June 2014. It was discovered on 23 April 2014 by NEOWISE. It is estimated that an impact event would have had the energy equivalent of 2,000 megatons of TNT and would have created a 5 km (3 mi) impact crater. The news media misleadingly nicknamed it The Beast. 2014 HQ124 previously passed this close to Earth in 1952 and will not again until at least 2307. Radar imaging suggests it may be a contact binary.

    <span class="nowrap">(357439) 2004 BL<sub>86</sub></span>

    (357439) 2004 BL86 is a bright sub-kilometer asteroid and binary system, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 300 meters (980 ft) in diameter. It was discovered on 30 January 2004 by astronomers of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico. Its 70-meter (200 ft) moon was discovered during the asteroid's close approach to the Earth in January 2015.

    (523775) 2014 YB35, provisional designation 2014 YB35, is a stony near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 300 meters (980 feet) in diameter. It was discovered on 27 December 2014 by the Catalina Sky Survey at the Catalina Station in Arizona, United States. In March 2015, a minor-planet moon, less than half the size of its primary, was discovered by radar astronomers at Goldstone Observatory. The primary body of the binary system has a rotation period of 3.3 hours, while the secondary's orbital period remains unknown.

    2015 HM10 is an irregular shaped asteroid and sub-kilometer near-Earth object that passed near the Earth on 7 July 2015, at a distance of 442,000 kilometers or 1.15 lunar distances.

    <span class="nowrap">(436724) 2011 UW<sub>158</sub></span>

    (436724) 2011 UW158, provisionally known as 2011 UW158, is a stony, walnut-shaped asteroid and fast rotator, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 300 meters in diameter. It was discovered on 25 October 2011, by Pan-STARRS at Haleakala Observatory on the island of Maui, Hawaii, in the United States.

    <span class="nowrap">2014 JO<sub>25</sub></span> Near-Earth asteroid discovered in 2014.

    2014 JO25 is a near-Earth asteroid. It was discovered in May 2014 by astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona - a project of NASA's NEO (Near Earth Object) Observations Program in collaboration with the University of Arizona.

    <span class="nowrap">(190166) 2005 UP<sub>156</sub></span>

    (190166) 2005 UP156 is a stony asteroid and binary system, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 1 kilometer in diameter. It was discovered on 31 October 2005, by astronomers of the Spacewatch survey at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, United States. Its minor-planet moon with an orbital period of 40.25 hours was discovered in 2017.

    <span class="nowrap">(52768) 1998 OR<sub>2</sub></span> Asteroid

    (52768) 1998 OR2 (provisional designation 1998 OR2) is an asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Amor group, with a diameter of 2 kilometers (1.2 mi). It was discovered on 24 July 1998, by astronomers of the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) program at the Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii. It is one of the brightest and therefore largest potentially hazardous asteroids known to exist. With an observation arc of 35 years, the asteroid has a well-determined orbit, and its trajectory is well known through the year 2197. The asteroid's orbit is only potentially hazardous on a time scale of thousands of years.

    (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. 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.

    <span class="nowrap">(164121) 2003 YT<sub>1</sub></span> Asteroid

    (164121) 2003 YT1, provisional designation 2003 YT1, is a bright asteroid and synchronous binary system on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 18 December 2003, by astronomers with the Catalina Sky Survey at the Catalina Station near Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. The V-type asteroid has a short rotation period of 2.3 hours. Its 210-meter sized minor-planet moon was discovered at Arecibo Observatory in May 2004.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 450894 (2008 BT18)" (2015-10-17 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory . Retrieved 2 June 2017.
    2. 1 2 3 4 "450894 (2008 BT18)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
    3. 1 2 3 4 Johnston, Wm. Robert (18 February 2017). "Asteroids with Satellites Database – (450894) 2008 BT18". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
    4. 1 2 3 4 5 "LCDB Data for (450894)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 21 May 2016.
    5. 1 2 3 4 Betzler, Alberto Silva; Novaes, Alberto Brum (July 2009). "Observations of V-type Binary Near-Earth Asteroids 2006 VV2 and 2008 BT18". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 36 (3): 94–96. Bibcode:2009MPBu...36...94B. ISSN   1052-8091 . Retrieved 16 November 2017.
    6. 1 2 3 4 5 Reddy, Vishnu; Emery, J. P.; Gaffey, M. J. (September 2008). "Compositional Investigation of Binary Potentially-Hazardous Asteroid 2008 BT18: A Basaltic Achondrite". American Astronomical Society. 40: 433. Bibcode:2008DPS....40.2507R . Retrieved 16 November 2017.