2010 TD54

2010 TD54 is a tiny asteroid and fast rotator, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 5 meters in diameter. It was first observed by the Mount Lemmon Survey in October 2010, when the asteroid crossed through the Earth-moon system and had a close encounter with Earth.[4]

2010 TD54
Orbital diagram of 2010 TD54 during its near-Earth encounter on 12 Oct 2010
Discovery[1]
Discovered byMount Lemmon Srvy.
Discovery siteMount Lemmon Obs.
Discovery date9 October 2010
Designations
2010 TD54
NEO · Apollo[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 6
Observation arc3 days
Aphelion3.2396 AU
Perihelion0.7020 AU
1.9708 AU
Eccentricity0.6438
2.77 yr (1,011 days)
159.97°
0° 21m 22.32s / day
Inclination4.3045°
18.607°
76.068°
Earth MOID0.000178 AU
0.0693 LD
Physical characteristics
Dimensions5 m[3]
5–10 m[4]
0.01167 h (dated)[5]
0.0229317 h[3][lower-alpha 1]
0.20 (assumed)[3]
Srv[6]
28.9[1]

    Orbit and classification

    2010 TD54 orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.7–3.2 AU once every 2 years and 9 months (1,011 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.64 and an inclination of 4° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

    The body's observation arc begins with its first observations by the Mount Lemmon Survey and only spans over a period of 3 days until 12 October 2010. It has been observed since then.[2]

    Close approach

    2010 TD54 made its closest approach at 10:51, 12 October 2010 UTC (6:51 EDT a.m.) at 0.000346 AU (51,800 km; 32,200 mi). It is one of the closest known approaches of an asteroid to Earth, at which time the object appeared at a magnitude of 14. It was first observed by of the Catalina Sky Survey's telescopes north of Tucson, Arizona on 9 October 2010.[4]

    It has an Earth minimum orbit intersection distance of 0.000178086 AU (26,600 km; 16,600 mi), which corresponds to 0.0693 lunar distance.[1] It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 11 October 2010.[7] The asteroid may have passed 0.0009 AU (135,000 km; 83,700 mi) from Earth in October 1979, but the nominal orbit suggests it passed millions of kilometres from Earth in 1979.[1]

    Physical characteristics

    2010 TD54 is a stony asteroid, characterized as a Srv subtype.[6]

    Rotation period

    In November 2010, a rotational light curve of 2010 TD54 was obtained from photometric observations, which showed that the asteroid is a fast rotator. Light curve analysis gave a well-defined rotation period of 0.0229317 hours (1 minute and 23 seconds) with a brightness amplitude of 0.92 magnitude (U=3). A high amplitude typically indicates that the body has an irregular, elongated rather than spherical shape.[lower-alpha 1] This result supersedes a previously obtained lightcurve with a shorter period of 0.01167 hours (U=1).[5]

    Diameter and albedo

    The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 5 metres (16 feet) based on an absolute magnitude of 28.9.[3] NASA's press release gave an estimated diameter of 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet).[4]

    See also

    Notes
    1. Ryan (2011) web: rotation period 0.0229317±0.0000002 hours with a brightness amplitude of 0.92±0.03 mag. Summary figures for (2010 TD54) at the LCDB and Bill Ryan at Magdalena Ridge Observatory

    References
    1. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2010 TD54)" (2010-10-12 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
    2. "2010 TD54". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
    3. "LCDB Data for 2012 TC4". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 28 September 2017.
    4. "Small Asteroid to Pass Within Earth-Moon System Tuesday". NASA. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
    5. Hicks, M.; Rhoades, H. (October 2010). "The near-Earth asteroid 2010 TD54: The fastest rotating natural body known in the solar system?". The Astronomer's Telegram. 2984 (2984): 1. Bibcode:2010ATel.2984....1H. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
    6. Popescu, M.; Birlan, M.; Binzel, R.; Vernazza, P.; Barucci, A.; Nedelcu, D. A.; et al. (November 2011). "Spectral properties of eight near-Earth asteroids". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 535: 15. Bibcode:2011A&A...535A..15P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201117118.
    7. "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring – Removed Objects". NASA/JPL CINEOS – Center for Near Earth Object Studies. Retrieved 28 September 2017.

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