2022 RM4

2022 RM4 is categorized as a potentially hazardous asteroid because it is around 400 meters in diameter[3][lower-alpha 1] and makes close approaches to Earth. It was discovered on 12 September 2022 when it was 0.61 AU (91 million km) from Earth and located at declination +65 near the northern circumpolar star Zeta Draconis.[1]

2022 RM4
The orbit of 2022 RM4 is highly inclined at 38° and takes 3.8 years to orbit the Sun.
Discovery[1]
Discovered byPan-STARRS 2
Discovery date12 September 2022
Designations
2022 RM4
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 2022-Aug-09 (JD 2459800.5)
Uncertainty parameter 5
Observation arc50 days
Aphelion3.90 AU (Q)
Perihelion0.98844 AU (q)
2.446 AU (a)
Eccentricity0.596 (e)
3.83 years
337.8° (M)
Inclination38.31° (i)
218.2° (Ω)
3 November 2022
181.7° (ω)
Earth MOID0.0032 AU (480 thousand km; 1.2 LD)
Jupiter MOID1.5 AU (220 million km)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions
19.8[4]

    At 1 November 2022 18:26 UT it passed 0.01536 AU (2,298,000 km; 5.98 LD) from Earth.[2] As of 1 November 2022 the uncertainty in the close approach distance was ±77 km.[5] The asteroid should have brighten to about apparent magnitude 14.3 which is roughly the brightness of Pluto and was around 75 degrees from the Sun.[6] It may have been viewable by experienced amateur observers with a telescope that has an aperture of around 8-inches or better.[7]

    Earth Approach on 1 November 2022[2]
    Date JPL Horizons
    nominal geocentric
    distance (AU)    		 uncertainty
    region
    (3-sigma)
    2022-11-01 18:26 ± 00:010.01536 AU (2.298 million km)[2]±77 km[8]

    By 2 November 2022 the asteroid was better placed for the southern hemisphere with a declination of –32.[6] Goldstone Solar System Radar using the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex 70–meter Deep Space Station 43 and Australia Telescope Compact Array observed the asteroid on 2 November 2022.[9] It then came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 3 November 2022.[2]

    See also

    Notes
    1. An absolute magnitude of 19.8 and assumed albedo of 0.14 gives a diameter of 389 meters (or ≈400 meters after rounding).
    2. Diameter range based on Minor Planet Center absolute magnitude value of 19.8 and assumed albedo range of 0.25 to 0.05.

    References
    1. "MPEC 2022-R162 : 2022 RM4". IAU Minor Planet Center. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022. (K22R04M)
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2022 RM4)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    3. "ESA Summary: 2022RM4". European Space Agency. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
    4. "2022 RM4 Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
    5. Archive of JPL Horizons using JPL #24 solution date 2022-Nov-01
    6. "Magnitude near 2022-11-01 close approach". JPL Horizons. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
    7. Kelly Kizer Whitt (5 October 2022). "Large asteroid RM4 to pass closely November 1". Earthsky. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
    8. "Horizons Batch for 2022-11-01 Close Approach". JPL Horizons. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022. RNG_3sigma = uncertainty range in km. (JPL#24/Soln.date: 2022-Nov-01 generates RNG_3sigma = 77 km)
    9. Dr. Lance A. M. Benner. "Goldstone Asteroid Schedule". NASA Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
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