1998 KY26

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1998 KY26
Asteroid 1998 KY26.faces model.jpg
Three views of a computer model of 1998 KY26, derived from radar observations in 1998
Discovery [1] [2]
Discovered by Spacewatch
(Tom Gehrels) [3]
Discovery site Kitt Peak Obs.
Discovery date28 May 1998
(discovery: first observed only)
Designations
1998 KY26
NEO  · Apollo [1] [4]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 21 Nov 2025 (JD 2461000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 25.93 yr (9472 days)
Aphelion 1.4748 AU
Perihelion 0.9840 AU
1.2289 AU
Eccentricity 0.20011
1.3622 yr (497.57 days)
359.504°
0° 43m 24.642s / day
Inclination 1.4912°
84.182°
210.004°
Earth  MOID 0.002966 AU (1.154  LD)
Physical characteristics
11±2  m [5]
5.3516±0.0001  min (0.0892  h ) [5]
0.52±0.08 [5]
X [4]
B–R=0.083±0.070 [6]
V–R=0.058±0.055 [6]
R–I=0.088±0.053 [6] Xe [5]
26.13±0.16 [5]

    1998 KY26 is a nearly spherical sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group. It measures approximately 11 meters (40 feet) in diameter and is a fast rotator, having a rotational period of only 5.35 minutes. [5] It was first observed on 2 June 1998, by the Spacewatch survey at Kitt Peak National Observatory during 6 days during which it passed 800,000 kilometers (half a million miles) away from Earth (a little more than twice the Earth–Moon distance). [2] [3]

    Contents

    The object's orbit is well known, since it was recovered in 2002 by the Hawaiian Observatory, and it was most recently observed, from 17 April 2024 through 3 June 2024, by several observatories. [2]

    Orbit and classification

    1998 KY26 orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.0–1.5  AU once every 16 months (500 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.20 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic. It has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of approximately 0.0025 AU (374,000 km; 232,000 mi), corresponding to 0.98 lunar distances. [1]

    As a result, it is one of the most easily accessible objects in the Solar System, [7] and its orbit frequently brings it on a path very similar to the optimum Earth–Mars transfer orbit. [1] This, coupled with its high water content, makes it an attractive target for further study and a potential source of water for future missions to Mars. [8]

    Physical properties

    The physical properties of this object were measured by an international team of astronomers led by Dr. Steven J. Ostro of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory using a radar telescope in California and optical telescopes in the Czech Republic, Hawaii, Arizona and California.

    1998 KY26 is characterized as a potentially metallic X-type asteroid. [4] Optical and radar observations indicate that it is a water-rich object. [8]

    From light curve photometry in 1998, the object is measured to have a rotation period of only 10.7 minutes, which was considered to be one of the shortest sidereal days of any known Solar System object at the time; most asteroids with established rotational rates have periods measured in hours. [6] As a result, it cannot possibly be a rubble pile, as many asteroids are thought to be, and must instead be a monolithic object. [9] [6] [10] It was the first such object to be discovered, but since 1998, several other small asteroids have been found to also have short rotation periods, some even faster than 1998 KY26. Being a rotating body in space, it is subject to the Yarkovsky effect. Observations of the asteroid during a close approach to Earth in 2024 revealed a smaller diameter of 11 meters, a shorter rotation period of 5.35 minutes, and a brighter albedo of 0.52.

    Exploration

    Animation of Hayabusa2 orbit - Extended mission
       Hayabusa2  ·   162173 Ryugu  ·   Earth  ·   Sun  ·   98943 Torifune  ·  1998 KY26

    In September 2020, a mission extension for JAXA's Hayabusa2 asteroid sample return probe was selected to do additional flybys of two near-Earth asteroids: 98943 Torifune in July 2026 and a rendezvous with 1998 KY26 in July 2031. The rendezvous with 1998 KY26 will be the first visit of a rapidly rotating micro-asteroid. [11] This will also make 1998 KY26 the smallest object to ever be studied by a spacecraft. [12] Observations of the asteroid in 2024 cast doubt on if a landing on the asteroid is even possible. [1]

    Further reading

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (1998 KY26)" (2020-12-12 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    2. 1 2 3 "1998 KY26". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    3. 1 2 "Spacewatch discovery of 1998 KY26". SPACEWATCH Project. 7 April 2004. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    4. 1 2 3 "LCDB Data for (1998 KY26)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Santana-Ros, T.; Bartczak, P.; Muinonen, K.; Rożek, A.; Müller, T.; Hirabayashi, M.; Farnocchia, D.; Micheli, M.; Cannon, R. E.; Brozović, M.; Hainaut, O.; Oszkiewicz, D.; Virkki, A. K.; Benner, L. A. M.; Campo Bagatin, A.; Benavidez, P. G.; Cabrera-Lavers, A.; Martínez-Vázquez, C. E.; Vivas, K. (18 September 2025). "Hayabusa2 extended mission target asteroid 1998 KY26 is smaller and rotating faster than previously known". Nature.
    6. 1 2 3 4 5 Ostro, Steven J.; Pravec, Petr; Benner, Lance A. M.; Hudson, R. Scott; Sarounová, Lenka; Hicks, Michael D.; et al. (June 1999). "Radar and Optical Observations of Asteroid 1998 KY26" (PDF). Science. 285 (5427): 557–559(SciHomepage). Bibcode:1999Sci...285..557O. doi:10.1126/science.285.5427.557. PMID   10417379.
    7. ↑ "1998 KY26" . Retrieved 25 April 2009.
    8. 1 2 "Astronomy Picture of the Day: Asteroid 1998 KY26". NASA. 19 September 2002. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
    9. ↑ Hicks, M. D.; Weissman, P. R.; Rabinowitz, D. L.; Chamberlin, A. B.; Buratti, B. J.; Lee, C. O. (September 1998). "Close Encounters: Observations of the Earth-crossing Asteroids 1998 KY26 and 1998 ML14". American Astronomical Society. 30: 1029. Bibcode:1998DPS....30.1006H.
    10. ↑ Pravec, P.; Sarounova, L. (June 1998). "1998 KY26". IAU Circ. (6941): 2. Bibcode:1998IAUC.6941....2P.
    11. ↑ Gough, Evan (25 September 2020). "Hayabusa2's Mission isn't Over. It has a New Asteroid Target to Visit: 1998 KY26". Universe Today. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
    12. ↑ "1998 Ky26".
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