2012 TC4
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For the titanium alloy, see Ti-6Al-4V.
2012 TC4 is a tumbling micro-asteroid classified as a bright near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 10 meters (30 feet) in diameter.[6][7][8] It was first observed by Pan-STARRS at Haleakala Observatory on the Hawaiian island of Maui, in the United States. As of 1 October 2017, it had a small Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.000149 AU (22,300 km).[2] On 12 October 2017, it passed Earth at 0.00033524 AU (50,151 km).[2] The asteroid was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 16 October 2017[11] and with a 5-year observation arc has a well-known orbit.[2] For example, on the previously risk-listed date of 12 October 2022,[12] it is now known that the asteroid will be more than 3 AU (450 million km) from Earth.[13]
Quick Facts Discovery, Discovered by ...
Discovery[2][3] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Pan-STARRS 1 |
Discovery site | Haleakala Obs. |
Discovery date | 4 October 2012 |
Designations | |
2012 TC4 | |
Orbital characteristics[2] | |
Epoch 1 October 2017 (JD 2458027.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 1 | |
Observation arc | 5.19 yr (1,897 d) |
Aphelion | 1.8786 AU |
Perihelion | 0.9335 AU |
1.4061 AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.3361 |
1.67 yr (609 d) | |
332.79° | |
0° 35m 27.96s / day | |
Inclination | 0.8572° |
198.23° | |
222.58° | |
Earth MOID | 0.000149 AU (0.0580 LD) |
Mars MOID | 0.03 AU[4] |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 15 m × 8 m[5][6] |
Mean diameter | 7–13 m[7][8] 15 m[8] |
| |
12.9–31[10] | |
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