2012 KT42
Designations
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)

    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

    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. 1 2 3 "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. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
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