2017 VR12

2017 VR₁₂ is a sub-kilometer asteroid with a somewhat elongated and angular shape, approximately 160 meters (500 feet) in diameter. It is classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo or Amor group.^[a] The V-type asteroid has a rotation period of approximately 1.5 hours.^[5] It was first observed on 10 November 2017 by the 60-inch Pan-STARRS 1 telescope at Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii.^[2][3]

2017 VR₁₂

Goldstone/Green Bank Telescope radar images of 2017 VR12[1]
Discovery[2]
Discovered by	Pan-STARRS 1
Discovery site	Haleakala Obs.
Discovery date	10 November 2017 (first observed only)
Designations
MPC designation	2017 VR12
Minor planet category	NEO · PHA Apollo[3] · Amor[2][a]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc	118 days
Aphelion	1.7389 AU
Perihelion	1.0004 AU
Semi-major axis	1.3697 AU
Eccentricity	0.2696
Orbital period (sidereal)	1.60 yr (585.50 d)
Mean anomaly	8.8927°
Mean motion	0° 36m 53.64s / day
Inclination	9.2247°
Longitude of ascending node	347.32°
Argument of perihelion	180.74°
Earth MOID	0.0077 AU (3.0 LD)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	160 m × 100 m[4]
Mean diameter	160 m[1]
Synodic rotation period	1.4 h[1] 1.5 h[5]
Spectral type	V[1]
Absolute magnitude (H)	20.6[3]

Orbit and classification

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.0–1.7 AU once every 1 years and 7 months (585 days; semi-major axis of 1.37 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.27 and an inclination of 9° with respect to the ecliptic.^[3] 2017 VR₁₂ is a V-type asteroid with a bright surface.^[1]

Orbit of 2017 VR₁₂

Animation of 2017 VR12's orbit from 1 October 2016 to 1 October 2018
   2017 VR12 ·   Mercury ·   Venus ·   Earth ·   Mars

2017 VR₁₂ passed 0.0097 AU (3.76 lunar distances) from Earth on 7 March 2018, the closest approach by this asteroid currently known. It brightened to 12th magnitude, making it one of the brightest Near Earth asteroids of the year. It was observed by radar from Goldstone, Green Bank and Arecibo Observatory. Images revealed that 2017 VR₁₂ is a slightly elongated and angular body with a size of approximately 160 by 100 meters.^[1][6][4]

Physical characteristics

Images obtained at Green Bank and Arecibo observatories in 2018, revealed that 2017 VR₁₂ is a slightly elongated and angular body with a size of approximately 160 by 100 meters.^[1][6][4]

On 5 March 2018, a rotational lightcurve was obtained from photometric observations by astronomers at the Northolt Branch Observatories. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 1.5 hours with a brightness amplitude between 0.4 and 0.5 magnitude (U=n.a).^[5]

Gallery

• 
  2017 VR₁₂, imaged at Northolt Branch Observatories on 15 February 2018. The asteroid is visible at 17th magnitude at this point, at a distance of 10.4 million km (6.5 million mi) from Earth. The image is inverted (stars appear dark, the background appears light).^[7]
• 
  2017 VR₁₂ on 26 February 2018. The asteroid is visible at 15th magnitude, at a distance of 4.8 million km (3.0 million miles) from Earth. The telescope is tracking the asteroid, causing stars to trail as the asteroid slowly moves across the sky.^[8]
• 
  2017 VR₁₂ on 5 March 2018, two days before closest approach. The asteroid was 1.9 million km (1.2 million mi) from Earth at that time, visible at 13th magnitude.^[9][6]

• 
  Daily motion outside Moon's orbit.
• 
  Motion across the sky from north to south during the 6 hours around closest approach.

Notes

1. It is either an Amor or an Apollo asteroid, depending on the definition of those orbital classes: JPL SBDB defines Apollo asteroids as those with a perihelion of less than 1.017 AU (smaller than Earth's aphelion),^[10] while the MPC uses a threshold of 1.000 AU (Earth's semi-major axis). 2017 VR₁₂'s perihelion is 1.0004 AU.