| Discovery [1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Catalina Sky Srvy. |
| Discovery site | Mount Lemmon Obs. |
| Discovery date | 27 April 2006 |
| Designations | |
| (391211) 2006 HZ51 | |
| 2006 HZ51 | |
| Amor · NEO · PHA [1] [2] | |
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 ( JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 0 | |
| Observation arc | 16.10 yr (5,882 days) |
| Aphelion | 2.7511 AU |
| Perihelion | 1.0438 AU |
| 1.8974 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.4499 |
| 2.61 yr (955 days) | |
| 86.571 ° | |
| 0° 22m 37.56s / day | |
| Inclination | 12.412° |
| 84.291° | |
| 193.34° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0354 AU (13.8 LD) |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 0.412±0.089 km
[3] 0.8 km (estimate) [4] |
| 0.415±0.233 [3] | |
| 18.5 [1] | |
(391211) 2006 HZ51 is a bright, sub-kilometer asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object and a potentially hazardous asteroid of the Amor group. It was discovered on 27 April 2006, by astronomers of the Catalina Sky Survey conducted at Mount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, United States. [2] During preliminary observations, it was thought to have a small chance of impacting Earth in 2008. [4] The asteroid measures approximately half a kilometer in diameter and has an exceptionally high albedo. [3]
Orbit and classification
2006 HZ51 is an Amor asteroid – a subgroup of near-Earth asteroids that approach the orbit of Earth from beyond, but do not cross it. [1] [2]
It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.04–2.75 AU once every 2 years and 7 months (955 days; semi-major axis of 1.90 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.45 and an inclination of 12 ° with respect to the ecliptic. [1] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by NEAT at Palomar Observatory in October 2001. [2] With an aphelion of 2.75 AU, and typical for members of the Amor group, this asteroid is also a Mars-crosser, crossing the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.666 AU.
Close approaches
2006 HZ51 has a minimum orbital intersection distance (MOID) with Earth of 5,290,000 km (0.035385 AU), which translates into 13.8 lunar distances. [1]
This makes it a potentially hazardous asteroid, a body with a threatening close approach to the Earth, due to its low MOID and large size ( absolute magnitude of 18.5). Such asteroids are defined to have 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.
Based on a short observation arc of only 1.1 days, it was originally thought to have a 1 in 6 million chance of hitting Earth on 21 June 2008. [4] Further refinement of the orbit quickly eliminated the risk. The preliminary 2-day orbit solution on 28 April 2006 was at first thought to have a period of 7 years and a perihelion of approximately 1.1 AU (MPEC 2006-H58).
Physical characteristics
Diameter and albedo
According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, 2006 HZ51 measures 412 meters in diameter and its surface has an exceptionally high albedo of 0.415. [3] Other source give an estimated diameter of 800 meters. [4]
Rotation period
As of 2018, n rotational lightcurve of 2006 HZ51 has been obtained from photometric observations. The body's rotation period, pole and shape remains unknown. [1] [5]
Naming
This minor planet has not yet been named. [2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 391211 (2006 HZ51)" (2017-11-21 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "391211 (2006 HZ51)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d Nugent, C. R.; Mainzer, A.; Masiero, J.; Bauer, J.; Cutri, R. M.; Grav, T.; et al. (December 2015). "NEOWISE Reactivation Mission Year One: Preliminary Asteroid Diameters and Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 814 (2): 13. arXiv: 1509.02522. Bibcode: 2015ApJ...814..117N. doi: 10.1088/0004-637X/814/2/117. S2CID 9341381. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Big new asteroid has slim chance of hitting Earth". New Scientist. 2 May 2006. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "LCDB Data for (391211)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
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
- (391211) 2006 HZ51 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- (391211) 2006 HZ51 at ESA– space situational awareness
- (391211) 2006 HZ51 at the JPL Small-Body Database
