3200 Phaethon

Phaethon was the first asteroid to be discovered using images from a spacecraft. Simon F. Green and John K. Davies discovered it in images from October 11, 1983, while searching Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) data for moving objects. It was formally announced on October 14 in IAUC 3878 along with optical confirmation by Charles T. Kowal, who reported it to be asteroidal in appearance. Its provisional designation was 1983 TB, and it later received the numerical designation and name 3200 Phaethon in 1985.

Animation of 3200 Phaethon's orbit
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Phaethon is categorized as an Apollo asteroid, as its orbital semi-major axis is greater than that of the Earth's at 1.27 AU (190 million km; 118 million mi). It is also suspected to be a member of the Pallas family of asteroids.[8]

Its most remarkable distinction is that it approaches the Sun closer than any other named asteroid: its perihelion is only 0.14 AU (20.9 million km; 13.0 million mi) — less than half of Mercury's perihelial distance. It is a Mercury-, Venus-, Earth-, and Mars-crosser as a result of its high orbital eccentricity. The surface temperature at perihelion could reach around 1,025 K (750 °C; 1,390 °F).

Phaethon is a possible candidate for detecting general relativistic and/or solar oblateness effects in its orbital motion due to the frequent close approaches to the Sun.[9]

Phaethon's dust ejection is likely caused by a mechanism similar to how mud in a dry lake bottom cracks from heat

Phaethon is an asteroid with fairly unusual characteristics in that its orbit more closely resembles that of a comet than an asteroid; it has been referred to as a "rock comet".[12] In recent studies performed by NASA's STEREO spacecraft, dust tails have been observed,[13] and in 2010, Phaethon was detected ejecting dust.[14] It is possible that the Sun's heat is causing fractures similar to mudcracks in a dry lake bed.[14] This occurs because Phaethon's orbit takes it closer to the Sun than any other named asteroid (0.14 AU at perihelion) causing extreme heating and enough solar radiation pressure to push any separated pieces off the asteroid's surface. Since its discovery, several other objects were found exhibiting mixed cometary and asteroidal features, such as 133P/Elst–Pizarro, leading to a new class of objects dubbed "active asteroids".[6]

In 2018, observations revealed that Phaethon was blue in color, which is an extremely rare occurrence among asteroids. In contrast, most asteroids tend to be grey or red.[15][16] In 2020, polarimentric study revealed Phaeton has a surface with steep slopes covered by a mix of regolith with larger pebbles.[17] Phaethon's composition fits the notion of its cometary origin; it is classified as a F-type asteroid because it is composed of dark material.[1][5]

Shortly after its discovery, Fred Whipple observed that the "orbital elements of 1983 TB shown on IAUC 3879 are virtually coincident with the mean orbital elements of 19 Geminid meteors photographed with the super-Schmidt meteor cameras".[18] In other words, Phaethon is the long-sought parent body of the Geminids meteor shower of mid-December.

DESTINY⁺ (Demonstration and Experiment of Space Technology for INterplanetary voYage Phaethon fLyby dUSt science) is a planned mission to flyby 3200 Phaethon, as well as various minor bodies originating from it. The spacecraft is being developed by the Japanese space agency JAXA, and will demonstrate advanced technologies for future deep space exploration. DESTINY+ is planned to be launched in 2022.

Phaethon approached to 0.120895 AU (18,085,600 km; 11,237,900 mi) of Earth on December 10, 2007,[1] and was detected by radar at Arecibo.[9] When Phaethon came to perihelion in July 2009, it was found to be brighter than expected.[19][20] During its approach, the STEREO-A spacecraft detected an unexpected brightening, roughly by a factor of two.[12]

2010 approach

Phaethon imaged on December 25, 2010, with the 37-cm f/14 Rigel telescope at Winer Observatory by Marco Langbroek

2017 approach

On December 16, 2017, at 23:00 UT, Phaethon passed 0.06893169 AU (10,312,034 km; 6,407,601 mi) from Earth (27 lunar distances).[1] The Earth approach distance was known with a 3-sigma accuracy of ±700 m.[1][lower-alpha 1] This was the best opportunity to date for radar observations by Goldstone and Arecibo, with a resolution of 75 meters/pixel (246 feet/pixel).[9]

The asteroid was bright enough to see in small telescopes, peaking at magnitude 10.8 between December 13–15 while dimming slightly to magnitude 11 on December 16 at closest approach.[21] Arecibo made observations of Phaethon from December 15–19.[4] It will not make an Earth approach closer than the 2017 passage until December 14, 2093, when it will pass 0.01981 AU (2,964,000 km; 1,841,000 mi) from Earth.[1][22]

Path of 3200 Phaethon in the sky during December 2017

Time lapse taken through a telescope in Riga, Latvia (December 10, 2017)

Phaethon at maximum angular velocity, December 15, 2017, 18:47:13–19:24:50 UTC

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 3200 Phaethon.

• (3200) Phaethon by the Associazione Friulana di Astronomia e Meteorologia
• "The 2004 Geminid Meteor Shower" by Science@NASA
• "ScienceCasts: Rock Comet Meteor Shower" by Science@NASA on YouTube.com
• Phaethon orbit and observations at IAU Minor Planet Center
• 3200 Phaethon at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Obs prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Obs info · Close · Physical info · NEOCC
• 3200 Phaethon at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters