(388188) 2006 DP₁₄

Radar image of 2006 DP14 by the Arecibo Observatory in 2014
Discovery [1]
Discovered by	LINEAR
Discovery site	Lincoln Lab's ETS
Discovery date	23 February 2006
Designations
MPC designation	(388188) 2006 DP14
Alternative designations	2006 DP14
Minor planet category	Apollo · NEO · PHA [2] [1]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 23 March 2018 ( JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	10.10 yr (3,690 d)
Aphelion	2.4262 AU
Perihelion	0.3056 AU
Semi-major axis	1.3659 AU
Eccentricity	0.7763
Orbital period (sidereal)	1.60 yr (583 d)
Mean anomaly	234.28 °
Mean motion	0° 37m 2.64s / day
Inclination	11.778°
Longitude of ascending node	317.20°
Argument of perihelion	59.280°
Earth  MOID	0.0163 AU (6.35 LD)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	400  m × 200  m [3]
Mean diameter	0.4  km [3] 0.493 km (calculated) [4]
Synodic rotation period	5.77±0.01  h [5] [a] 5.78±0.02 h [6] 6 h [3]
Geometric albedo	0.20 (assumed) [4]
Spectral type	S (assumed) [4] B–V = 0.670±0.022 [6] V–R = 0.400±0.015 [6] V–I = 0.792±0.031 [6]
Absolute magnitude (H)	18.80±0.02 [6] 18.9 [2] [4]

(388188) 2006 DP₁₄, provisional designation 2006 DP₁₄, is a sub-kilometer sized, peanut-shaped asteroid on a highly eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group. This contact binary was discovered on 23 February 2006, by astronomers of the LINEAR program at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States. ^[1] On 10 February 2014, it passed 6.25 lunar distances from Earth. ^{[2] [3]} The asteroid is approximately 400 meters in diameter and has a rotation period of 5.77 hours. ^{[4] [a]}

Classification and orbit

2006 DP₁₄ is a member of the Apollo group, which are Earth-crossing asteroids and the largest group of near-Earth asteroids. ^{[2] [1]}

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.3–2.4  AU once every 19 months (583 days; semi-major axis of 1.37 AU). Its orbit has a high eccentricity of 0.78 and an inclination of 12 ° with respect to the ecliptic. ^[2] As no precoveries were taken, the body's observation arc begins with its discovery observation in 2006. ^[1]

Close approaches

The asteroid has an Earth minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) of 2,440,000 km (0.0163 AU), ^[2] which corresponds to 6.4 lunar distances (LD). On 10 February 2014, it passed Earth close to this theoretical minimum distance at 6.25 LD, or 2,400,000 km (0.016032 AU). ^{[2] [3]} This makes it a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA), a body with a threatening close approach to the Earth, due to its low MOID and large size ( absolute magnitude of 18.9). PHAs are defined as objects with an absolute magnitude of 22 or brighter – which generically corresponds to a diameter of approximately 140 meters – and a MOID that is smaller than 0.05 AU or 19.5 LD.

Physical characteristics

2006 DP₁₄ is an assumed stony S-type asteroid. ^[4] This asteroid is a typical contact binary, with two distinctive lobes on either end that appear to be in contact, giving it a peanut-like shape. ^[3]

Diameter, shape and albedo

On the night of 11 February 2014, NASA scientists conducted a radar imaging session using the 70-meter dish at Goldstone Observatory. ^[3] These observations, using delay-Doppler radar imaging, revealed a 400×200 meters sized body, ^[3] while the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link calculates a diameter of almost 500 meters, based on an assumed standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and an absolute magnitude of 18.9. ^[4]

Amateur and professional astronomers helped track 2006 DP₁₄ in the preceding days, so they would know just where to point the large antenna. ^[3]

Rotation period

Goldstone's radiometric observations also gave a rotation period of approximately 6 hours. ^[3] Photometric follow-up observations led to two light-curves that gave a refined period of 5.77 and 5.78 hours with a high brightness variation of 1.05 and 0.9, respectively ( U=3/3). ^{[5] [6] [a]} Its high brightness amplitude is also indicative for its elongated shape.

Naming

As of 2018, this minor planet remains unnamed. ^[1]

Notes

References

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form ( info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• (388188) 2006 DP14 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemerides · Observation prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Observational info · Close approaches · Physical info · Orbit animation
• (388188) 2006 DP14 at ESA– space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical properties · Summary
• (388188) 2006 DP14 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters