Designations | |
---|---|
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5) | |
Uncertainty parameter 5 | |
Aphelion | 2.4839 AU (371.59 Gm) |
Perihelion | 0.71144 AU (106.430 Gm) |
Periastron | 94.628° |
1.5977 AU (239.01 Gm) | |
Eccentricity | 0.55470 |
2.02 yr (737.60 d) | |
261.31° | |
0° 29m 17.052s / day | |
Inclination | 2.1932° |
69.515° | |
259.13° | |
Earth MOID | 0.000968708 AU (144,916.7 km) |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | ~4–10 metres[2] |
0.06057 h (3.634 min) | |
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.
Overview
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ a b c "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2012 KT42)" (last observation: 2012-05-29; arc: 1 day; uncertainty: 5). Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "Conversion of Absolute Magnitude to Diameter". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ "2012 KT42 Orbit". Minor Planet Center. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ "Earth Impact Risk Summary: 2012 KT42". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 29 May 2012.[dead link]
- ^ "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
External links
[edit]- JPL Small-Body Database Browser for 2012 KT42
- 2012 KT42 - Close Approach (Remanzacco Observatory in Italy)
- Images from Flyby (spaceweather.com)
- MPEC 2012-K66 : 2012 KT42 (Minor Planet Center Discovery announcement)
- Planetary Defense Blog post on 2012 KT42
- Video: Tiny Asteroid 2012 KT42 Crossing The Sky (universetoday 29 May 2012)
- The Peculiar Flyby of Asteroid 2012 KT42 (Pasquale Tricarico : 29 May 2012)
- 2012 KT42 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 2012 KT42 at ESA–space situational awareness
- 2012 KT42 at the JPL Small-Body Database
Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
View the detailed Guide of Psilotum nudum: Detailed Study Of Psilotum Nudum (Whisk Fern), Classification, Anatomy, Reproduction