2012 TC4

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. 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). On 12 October 2017, it passed Earth at 0.00033524 AU (50,151 km). The asteroid was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 16 October 2017 and with a 5-year observation arc has a well-known orbit. For example, on the previously risk-listed date of 12 October 2022, it is now known that the asteroid will be more than 3 AU (450 million km) from Earth.

2012 TC4
Radar movie of 2012 TC4
Discovery
Discovered byPan-STARRS 1
Discovery siteHaleakala Obs.
Discovery date4 October 2012
Designations
MPC designation
2012 TC4
Minor planet category
Orbital characteristics
Epoch 1 October 2017 (JD 2458027.5)
Uncertainty parameter 1
Observation arc5.19 yr (1,897 d)
Aphelion1.8786 AU
Perihelion0.9335 AU
Semi-major axis
1.4061 AU
Eccentricity0.3361
Orbital period (sidereal)
1.67 yr (609 d)
Mean anomaly
332.79°
Mean motion
0° 35m 27.96s / day
Inclination0.8572°
Longitude of ascending node
198.23°
222.58°
Earth MOID0.000149 AU (0.0580 LD)
Mars MOID0.03 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions15 m × 8 m
Mean diameter
7–13 m
15 m
Synodic rotation period
  • 0.2038 h
  • 0.142 h
  • NPAR
  • 0.35±0.1
  • 0.30±0.01 (radiometric)
  • E/Xe
  • S (assumed)
  • V–R = 0.41±0.02
12.9–31
  • 26.7
  • 26.8
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