2012 KT42

2012 KT42 is an Apollo near-Earth asteroid first observed by astronomer Alex R. Gibbs of the Mount Lemmon Survey with a 1.5-meter reflecting telescope on 28 May 2012.

2012 KT42
Designations
  • Apollo
  • NEO
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 5
Aphelion2.4839 AU (371.59 Gm)
Perihelion0.71144 AU (106.430 Gm)
Periastron94.628°
1.5977 AU (239.01 Gm)
Eccentricity0.55470
2.02 yr (737.60 d)
261.31°
0° 29m 17.052s / day
Inclination2.1932°
69.515°
259.13°
Earth MOID0.000968708 AU (144,916.7 km)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions~4–10 metres[2]
0.06057 h (3.634 min)

    Overview

    The asteroid had a close approach to the Earth on 29 May 2012, approaching to only ~8950 miles (~14,440 km) above the planet's surface. This means 2012 KT42 came inside the Clarke Belt of geosynchronous satellites. In May 2012, the estimated 5- to 10-metre-wide asteroid ranked #6 on the top 20 list of closest-approaches to Earth. There was no danger of a collision during the close approach. 2012 KT42 passed roughly 0.01 AU (1,500,000 km; 930,000 mi) from Venus on 8 July 2012.[1]

    It is estimated that an impact would produce an upper atmosphere air burst equivalent to 11 kt TNT,[4] roughly equal to Hiroshima's Little Boy. The asteroid would be vaporized as these small impacts occur approximately once per year. A comparable-sized object caused the Sutter's Mill meteorite in California on 2 April 2012. It was removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 30 May 2012.[5]

    References
    1. "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2012 KT42)" (last observation: 2012-05-29; arc: 1 day; uncertainty: 5). Retrieved 1 April 2016.
    2. "Conversion of Absolute Magnitude to Diameter". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
    3. "2012 KT42 Orbit". Minor Planet Center. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
    4. "Earth Impact Risk Summary: 2012 KT42". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
    5. "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
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