2017 QC36

2017 QC36 is a near-Earth object and a potentially hazardous asteroid of the Aten group, It measures approximately 200 meters (660 feet) in diameter and was briefly observed by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer on 18 August 2017 before it became a lost asteroid on the following day. It was later recovered in 2021 from archival Pan-STARRS and Cerro Tololo observations.[5][6]

2017 QC36
Discovery[1]
Discovered byWISE
Discovery siteLow Earth orbit
Discovery date18 August 2017
(first observation only)
Designations
2017 QC36
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 1 July 2021 (JD 2459396.5)
Uncertainty parameter 6[3]
Observation arc25 days
Earliest precovery date26 July 2017
Aphelion1.036
Perihelion0.5629
0.7994
Eccentricity0.29581
0.71 yr (261.1 days)
356.343°±0.150°
1° 22m 41.264s / day
Inclination17.317°±0.126°
136.698°±0.003°
356.534°±0.002°
Earth MOID0.0210 AU (8.2 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
240 m (assumed albedo 0.14)[2][4]
  • 20.79±0.32 (JPL)[3]
  • 20.79 (MPC)[1]

    Description

    2017 QC36 is an Aten asteroid, meaning that it is an Earth-crossing asteroid that has an orbit smaller than the orbit of the Earth. With an observation arc of 25 days,[7] the object has a reasonably determined orbit with moderate uncertainty. This is indicated by an uncertainty parameter or condition code of 6 (orbit uncertainty estimate is 0−9, with 0 being good, and 9 being highly uncertain).[3]

    This asteroid was first observed by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope which was placed into Low Earth Orbit in 2009. The asteroid's observation by WISE occurred on 18 August 2017, when it was less than 1 AU from Earth[1] and had a solar elongation of 92°.[8] It remained a lost asteroid with a single-day observation arc until 9 May 2021, when it was linked with Pan-STARRS 1 observations from 3 and 20 August 2017.[5] Additional precovery observations from Cerro Tololo/DECam on 26 July 2017 were later found and published by the Minor Planet Center on 8 July 2021.[6]

    The estimated mean diameter of the asteroid depends on its absolute magnitude and geometric albedo. Given an absolute magnitude of 20.8 and an assumed albedo range of 0.05 to 0.25 (for a body of carbonaceous and stony composition, respectively), the estimated mean diameter of the asteroid ranges 180 to 410 meters (590 to 1,300 feet).[1][4] Using the general assumption of an albedo of 0.14, the mean diameter is around 240 meters (790 feet).[2]

    Close encounters

    As a near-Earth object and a potentially hazardous asteroid – meaning that it has an orbit that can make close approaches to the Earth and large enough to cause significant regional damage in the event of impact – it was previously in the European Space Agency's Risk List[2] and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Sentry List.[7] It was removed from both lists on 9 May 2021, after additional Pan-STARRS observations of the asteroid were linked.[9]

    The last close encounter within 0.10 AU (15 million km; 9.3 million mi) of Earth was on 16 August 2017, two days prior to its discovery by WISE. The next such encounters will occur on 15 August 2022, 15 August 2027, and 15 August 2032, and 17 August 2037. The nominal closest approach distances for these dates are 0.078 AU, 0.074 AU, 0.082 AU, and 0.100 AU, respectively.

    See also

    References
    1. "2017 QC36". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    2. "ESA space situational awareness 2017QC36". European Space Agency. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    3. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2017 QC36)" (2017-08-20 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    4. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    5. "MPEC 2021-J115 : DAILY ORBIT UPDATE (2021 May 9)". Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. Minor Planet Center. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
    6. "MPEC 2021-N49 : DAILY ORBIT UPDATE (2021 July 8)". Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. Minor Planet Center. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
    7. "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring – Object Details 2017 QC36". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    8. "JPL HORIZONS Web–Interface (2017 QC36)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    9. "Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring – Removed Objects". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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