2011 XC2

Near-Earth asteroid

2011 XC2 (also written 2011 XC2) is a near-Earth asteroid roughly 60–140 meters (200–460 ft) in diameter that passed less than 1 lunar distance from Earth on 3 December 2011.[5]

From mid October 2011 until 3 December 2011 15:00 UT the small dim asteroid had an elongation less than 60 degrees from the Sun.[6] (While less than 18 degrees from the Sun any dim asteroid can be lost in astronomical twilight, and many observatories can not see below ~40 degrees from the horizon.) On 3 December 2011 at 15:20 UT the asteroid passed 0.0023 AU (340,000 km; 210,000 mi) from Earth and at 16:20 UT passed 0.0016 AU (240,000 km; 150,000 mi) from the Moon.[5] The asteroid was then discovered on 8 December 2011 by Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) at an apparent magnitude of 19 using a 1.0-meter (39 in) reflecting telescope.[1] At the time of discovery the asteroid was near opposition to the Sun.[6]

It has an observation arc of 22 days with an uncertainty parameter of 7.[2] Virtual clones of the asteroid that fit the uncertainty region in the known trajectory show a 1 in 455,000 chance that the asteroid will impact Earth on 2 December 2056.[3] With a 2056 Palermo Technical Scale of −4.35,[3] the odds of impact by 2011 XC2 in 2056 are about 22387 times less[7] than the background hazard level of Earth impacts which is defined as the average risk posed by objects of the same size or larger over the years until the date of the potential impact.[8] Using the nominal orbit, JPL Horizons shows that the asteroid will be 3.8 AU (570,000,000 km; 350,000,000 mi) from Earth on 2 December 2056.[9]

H < 24 asteroids passing less than 1 LD from Earth
Asteroid Date Nominal approach distance (LD) Min. distance (LD) Max. distance (LD) Absolute magnitude (H) Size (meters)
(152680) 1998 KJ9 1914-12-31 0.606 0.604 0.608 19.4 279–900
(458732) 2011 MD5 1918-09-17 0.911 0.909 0.913 17.9 556–1795
(163132) 2002 CU11 1925-08-30 0.903 0.901 0.905 18.5 443–477
2010 VB1 1936-01-06 0.553 0.553 0.553 23.2 48–156
2002 JE9 1971-04-11 0.616 0.587 0.651 21.2 122–393
2013 UG1 1976-10-17 0.854 0.853 0.855 22.3 73–237
2012 TY52 1981-11-04 0.818 0.813 0.823 21.4 111–358
2012 UE34 1991-04-08 0.847 0.676 1.027 23.3 46–149
2017 VW13 2001-11-08 0.454 0.318 3.436 20.7 153–494
2002 MN 2002-06-14 0.312 0.312 0.312 23.6 40–130
(308635) 2005 YU55 2011-11-08 0.845 0.845 0.845 21.9 320–400
2011 XC2 2011-12-03 0.904 0.901 0.907 23.2 48–156
2018 AH 2018-01-02 0.773 0.772 0.773 22.5 67–216
2018 GE3 2018-04-15 0.502 0.501 0.503 23.7 35–135
(153814) 2001 WN5 2028-06-26 0.647 0.647 0.647 18.2 921–943
99942 Apophis 2029-04-13 0.0981 0.0963 0.1000 19.7 310–340
2012 UE34 2041-04-08 0.283 0.274 0.354 23.3 46–149
2015 XJ351 2047-06-06 0.789 0.251 38.135 22.4 70–226
2007 TV18 2058-09-22 0.918 0.917 0.919 23.8 37–119
2005 WY55 2065-05-28 0.865 0.856 0.874 20.7 153–494
(308635) 2005 YU55 2075-11-08 0.592 0.499 0.752 21.9 320–400
(456938) 2007 YV56 2101-01-02 0.621 0.615 0.628 21.0 133–431
2007 UW1 2129-10-19 0.239 0.155 0.381 22.7 61–197
101955 Bennu 2135-09-25 0.780 0.308 1.406 20.19 472–512
(153201) 2000 WO107 2140-12-01 0.634 0.631 0.637 19.3 427–593
2009 DO111 2146-03-23 0.896 0.744 1.288 22.8 58–188
(85640) 1998 OX4 2148-01-22 0.771 0.770 0.771 21.1 127–411
2007 UY1 2156-02-13 0.685 0.652 6.856 22.9 56–179
2011 LT17 2156-12-16 0.998 0.955 1.215 21.6 101–327

References

  1. ^ a b "MPEC 2011-X35 : 2011 XC2". IAU Minor Planet Center. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2014. (K11X02C)
  2. ^ a b c d "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2011 XC2)" (last observation: 2011-12-30; arc: 22 days). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Earth Impact Risk Summary: 2011 XC2". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Absolute Magnitude (H)". NASA/JPL. Archived from the original on 2 March 2001. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2011 XC2)" (last observation: 2011-12-30; arc: 22 days). Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  6. ^ a b "2011XC2 Ephemerides for 11 October 2011 through 17 December 2011". NEODyS (Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  7. ^ Math: 104.35 = 22387
  8. ^ "The Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 31 August 2005. Archived from the original on 21 March 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  9. ^ Horizons output. "Horizon Online Ephemeris System". Retrieved 20 February 2014. (Geocentric Solution)

External links

  • 2011 XC2 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
    • Ephemerides · Observation prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Observational info · Close approaches · Physical info · Orbit animation
  • 2011 XC2 at ESA–space situational awareness
    • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical properties · Summary
  • 2011 XC2 at the JPL Small-Body Database
    • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters
Preceded by
(308635) 2005 YU55
Large NEO Earth close approach
(inside the orbit of the Moon)

3 December 2011
Succeeded by
367943 Duende (2012 DA14)
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Exoplanets Exoplanets discovered in 2011
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Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
  • JPL SBDB
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