2017 XX61

Asteroid

2017 XX61 is a small near-Earth object, approximately 17 meters (56 feet) in diameter, that transited Earth at 8 lunar distances on 18 December 2017 at 14:54 UTC. The Apollo asteroid on an eccentric orbit was first observed by the Mount Lemmon Survey and was lost on the following night. As of 2020[update], it has not been recovered.[2]

Description

2017 XX61 was first observed on 15 December 2017, by astronomers of the Mount Lemmon Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory near Tucson, Arizona.[1]

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.8–3.3 AU once every 2 years and 11 months (1,062 days; semi-major axis of 2.04 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.61 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic.[2]

2017 XX61 has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0162 AU (2,420,000 km), which translates into 6.3 lunar distances.[2] The asteroid also approached Mars on 11 May 2018.[2]

A generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion gives a mean-diameter of 13–27 meters, for an absolute magnitude of 26.6,[2] and an assumed albedo between 0.25 and 0.057, which typically correspond to the composition of a stony and carbonaceous body, respectively.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "2017 XX61". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2017 XX61)" (2017-12-16 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 17 January 2018.

External links

  • 2017 XX61 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
    • Ephemerides · Observation prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Observational info · Close approaches · Physical info · Orbit animation
  • 2017 XX61 at ESA–space situational awareness
    • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical properties · Summary
  • 2017 XX61 at the JPL Small-Body Database
    • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters
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