Discovery[1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Catalina Sky Survey |
Discovery date | 25 January 2012 |
Designations | |
Aten | |
Orbital characteristics[2] | |
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 3 | |
Aphelion | 1.0332 AU (154.56 Gm) (Q) |
Perihelion | 0.48892 AU (73.141 Gm) (q) |
0.76105 AU (113.851 Gm) (a) | |
Eccentricity | 0.35757 (e) |
0.66 yr (242.5 d) | |
Averageorbital speed | 1.48200135°/day |
211.76° (M) | |
1.4845°/day (n) | |
Inclination | 10.527° (i) |
306.74° (Ω) | |
335.834° (ω) | |
Earth MOID | 0.000288322 AU (43,132.4 km) |
Jupiter MOID | 4.09701 AU (612.904 Gm) |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | ~8 meters (26 ft)[3][4] |
1.80828 h (0.075345 d)[2] | |
~13.9[5] to 30.3 | |
27.6[2] | |
2012 BX34 is a smallAten asteroid that made one of theclosest recorded asteroid close approaches of Earth on 27 January 2012. It passed within 0.0004371 AU (65,390 km; 40,630 mi) of Earth during its closest approach at 15:25 GMT.[6]2012 BX34 measures around 8 meters (26 ft) across; if it had impacted in 2012, it would have been too small to pass through Earth's atmosphere intact.[7]
During its 2012 close approach to Earth,2012 BX34 had a brightestapparent magnitude of about 13.9,[5] making it about as bright as thedwarf planetPluto. By 25 February 2012, it had dimmed to magnitude 30.[1] During its close approach of 0.0246 AU (3,680,000 km; 2,290,000 mi) on 28 January 2014,[6] it will only reach a magnitude of about 23.[8]2012 BX34 has been observed in more detail usingradar astronomy.[9]