2001 AV43

2001 AV43 is a very small, monolithic asteroid and fast rotator, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 30 meters (98 feet) in diameter. It was first observed on 5 January 2001, by astronomers of the LINEAR program at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States.[1] The presumed S-type asteroid has a rotation period of only 10 minutes.[3] It has an exceptionally low MOID of 0.66 lunar distance (LD) and will approach Earth at 0.81 LD on 11 November 2029.[2]

2001 AV43
Discovery [1]
Discovered byLINEAR
Discovery siteLincoln Laboratory ETS
Discovery date5 January 2001
Designations
2001 AV43
NEO · Apollo [1][2]
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc13.23 yr (4,834 d)
Aphelion1.5929 AU
Perihelion0.9744 AU
1.2836 AU
Eccentricity0.2409
1.45 yr (531 d)
256.05°
0° 40m 39.72s / day
Inclination0.2013°
20.505°
51.311°
Earth MOID0.0017 AU · 0.66 LD
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
0.03 km (derived)[3]
0.1701 h (612 s)[3][4]
0.20 (assumed)[3]
S (assumed)[3]
24.6[1][2]
24.9[3]

    Orbit and classification

    2001 AV43 is a member of the dynamical Apollo group,[2][1] which are Earth-crossing asteroids. Apollo asteroids are the largest subgroup of near-Earth objects. Unlike many Apollo asteroids, this asteroid is not a Mars-crosser, as its aphelion is smaller than the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.66 AU.[2]

    This asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.97–1.59 AU once every 17 months (531 days; semi-major axis of 1.28 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.24 and an inclination of 0° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery found in ESO's Astrovirtel data archive (I03), in August 2000, less than 5 months prior to its official discovery observation at Socorro.[1]

    Close approaches

    2001 AV43 has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0017 AU (254,000 km), which translates into 0.7 lunar distances (LD). Due to its small size, that is, an absolute magnitude fainter than 22, this asteroid is not classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid.[2]

    On 18 November 2013, the asteroid passed Earth at 2.7 LD. The angle of approach made it a good target for radar observations.[5]

    On 11 November 2029, the orbit of 2001 AV43 is predicted to bring the asteroid within a nominal distance of 0.00209 AU (313,000 km; 194,000 mi) or 0.81 LD of Earth. It will also pass the Moon at an even shorter nominal distance of 0.00166 AU (248,000 km; 154,000 mi)[2]

    Physical characteristics

    2001 AV43 is an assumed stony S-type asteroid.[3]

    Rotation period

    A rotational lightcurve of 2001 AV43 was obtained from photometric observations by American astronomers Robert J. Whiteley, Carl Hergenrother and David Tholen. Lightcurve analysis gave a rotation period of 0.1701 hours (612 second) with a brightness amplitude of 0.26 magnitude (U=2).[3][4] With such a short period, it is a notable fast rotator. The observers classified it as a "monolithic fast-rotating asteroid" (MFRA).[4]

    Diameter and albedo

    The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and derives a diameter of 0.03 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 24.9.[3]

    Numbering and naming

    As of 2018, this minor planet has neither been numbered nor named.[1]

    References
    1. "2001 AV43". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
    2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2001 AV43)" (2013-11-24 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
    3. "LCDB Data for 2001 AV43". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 24 January 2018.
    4. Whiteley, R. J.; Hergenrother, C. W.; Tholen, D. J. (November 2002). "Monolithic fast-rotating asteroids". Proceedings of Asteroids: 473–480. Bibcode:2002ESASP.500..473W. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
    5. Jim Borg (16 November 2013). "Asteroid to make 'close' pass to Earth on Monday". Star Advertiser.

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