(111253) 2001 XU10

(111253) 2001 XU10, provisional designation 2001 XU10, is an asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 9 December 2001, by astronomers of the LINEAR program at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States.[2] The asteroid is one of the largest potentially hazardous asteroids.[4]

(111253) 2001 XU10
Discovery[1]
Discovered byLINEAR
Discovery siteLincoln Lab's ETS
Discovery date9 December 2001
Designations
(111253) 2001 XU10
2001 XU10
Apollo · NEO · PHA[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc17.94 yr (6,552 days)
Aphelion2.5242 AU
Perihelion0.9832 AU
1.7537 AU
Eccentricity0.4394
2.32 yr (848 days)
38.733°
0° 25m 27.84s / day
Inclination42.020°
310.17°
6.9341°
Earth MOID0.0293 AU · 11.4 LD
Physical characteristics
Dimensions3.006±0.893 km[3]
0.178±0.156[3]
15.2[1]

    Orbit and classification

    2001 XU10 orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.98–2.52 AU once every 2 years and 4 months (848 days; semi-major axis of 1.75 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.44 and an inclination of 42° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in February 2000.[2]

    2001 XU10 is a member of the Apollo asteroids, the largest subgroup of near-Earth asteroids which cross the orbit of Earth. It is also a Mars-crosser, as it crosses the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.66 AU.[1]

    Close approaches

    With an absolute magnitude of 15.2, 2001 XU10 is one of the brightest and presumably largest known potentially hazardous asteroid (see PHA-list).[4] It has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0293 AU (4,380,000 km), which translates into 11.4 lunar distances (LD).[1] On 29 July 2054, this asteroid will make its closest near-Earth encounter of the 21st century at a nominal distance of 0.079 AU (31.1 LD).[1]

    Physical characteristics

    According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, 2001 XU10 measures 3.006 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.178.[3]

    As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of 2001 XU10 has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, spin axis and shape remain unknown. In addition, the body's spectral type has never been assessed.[1][5]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 19 October 2005.[6] As of 2018, it has not been named.[2]

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 111253 (2001 XU10)" (2018-01-16 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
    2. "111253 (2001 XU10)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
    3. Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Bauer, J.; Cutri, R. M.; McMillan, R. S.; et al. (November 2012). "Physical Parameters of Asteroids Estimated from the WISE 3-Band Data and NEOWISE Post-Cryogenic Survey". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 760 (1): 6. arXiv:1210.0502. Bibcode:2012ApJ...760L..12M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/760/1/L12.
    4. "List of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
    5. "LCDB Data for (111253)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 19 January 2018.
    6. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
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