(162058) 1997 AE12
 1997 AE12 on August 16, 2003 | |||||||||||||||||
| Discovery[1] | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovered by | Spacewatch | ||||||||||||||||
| Discovery site | Kitt Peak | ||||||||||||||||
| Discovery date | 10 January 1997 | ||||||||||||||||
| Designations | |||||||||||||||||
| 162058 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1997 AE12 | |||||||||||||||||
| Amor | |||||||||||||||||
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |||||||||||||||||
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Observation arc | 8218 days (22.50 yr) | ||||||||||||||||
| Aphelion | 3.6809 AU (550.65 Gm) | ||||||||||||||||
| Perihelion | 1.0617 AU (158.83 Gm) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2.3713 AU (354.74 Gm) | |||||||||||||||||
| Eccentricity | 0.55229 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3.65 yr (1333.8 d) | |||||||||||||||||
| 134.89° | |||||||||||||||||
| 0° 16m 11.676s / day | |||||||||||||||||
| Inclination | 4.8779° | ||||||||||||||||
| 305.539° | |||||||||||||||||
| 59.870° | |||||||||||||||||
| Earth MOID | 0.0910836 AU (13.62591 Gm) | ||||||||||||||||
| Jupiter MOID | 1.82306 AU (272.726 Gm) | ||||||||||||||||
| Proper orbital elements[1][2] | |||||||||||||||||
Proper eccentricity | 0.552 | ||||||||||||||||
Proper inclination | 6.069° | ||||||||||||||||
Proper mean motion | 98.576 deg / yr | ||||||||||||||||
Proper orbital period | 3.652 yr (1333.895 d) | ||||||||||||||||
| Physical characteristics | |||||||||||||||||
| Dimensions | 1282±490 km[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| 1,880 h (78 d) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1880 hours (78.3 days)[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| 0.0743[3] | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Q[2] | |||||||||||||||||
| 17.9 | |||||||||||||||||
(162058) 1997 AE12 is a fairly large Amor asteroid discovered January 10, 1997. It holds the record for being the slowest-rotating asteroid discovered so far.
Interactions with other planets
1997 AE12 occasionally makes close approaches to Earth and Mars.[1] Its closest recorded approach to Earth took place on August 30, 2003, when the asteroid came within 0.1238 AU (18,520,000 km) from Earth. It will come closer still on October 8, 2145, when it will be within 0.1042 AU (15,590,000 km) from Earth. 1997 AE12 will make its closest approach to Mars on December 29, 2054 when it will come within 0.0376 AU (5,620,000 km) from the planet.
Physical properties
1997 AE12 is a large asteroid with a diameter of around 850 m (0.53 mi). It is a rare Q-type asteroid with a very dark surface, reflecting only about 7% of the light it receives.[2] The most unusual feature of 1997 AE12, however, is its exceptionally slow rotation period of 1800 hours.[1] Like other slowly-rotating asteroids such as 912 Maritima, it is possible that the extremely slow rotation of 1997 AE12 is caused by YORP radiation pressure slowing down the asteroid's rotation.[5] This is especially likely considering that 1997 AE12 has a very low albedo, which would allow it to absorb more radiant energy from the Sun. Furthermore, the YORP effect has also been observed on other Q-type asteroids such as 1862 Apollo.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "162058 (1997 AE12) orbit diagram". JPL Small-Body Database. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. SPK-ID: 2162058. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d "(162058) 1997AE12". NEODyS. University of Pisa. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ Bruton, Dan. "Conversion of Absolute Magnitude to Diameter for Minor Planets". Stephan F. Austin State University. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ "Planetary Habitability Calculators". Planetary Habitability Laboratory. University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ Higgins, David; Martinez, Luis (2011). "Period Determination of Asteroid 912 Maritima". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 38 (2): 78–79. Bibcode:2011MPBu...38...78H. ISSN 1052-8091.
- ^ Kaasalainen, Mikko; Ďurech, Josef; Warner, Brian D.; Krugly, Yurij N.; Gaftonyuk, Ninel M. (2007). "Acceleration of the rotation of asteroid 1862 Apollo by radiation torques". Nature. 446 (7134): 420. Bibcode:2007Natur.446..420K. doi:10.1038/nature05614.