(386454) 2008 XM

(386454) 2008 XM
Discovery[1]
Discovered byLINEAR
Discovery siteLincoln Lab's ETS
Discovery date2 December 2008
Designations
(386454) 2008 XM
2008 XM
Apollo · NEO · PHA[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc5.16 yr (1,884 days)
Aphelion2.3334 AU
Perihelion0.1111 AU
1.2222 AU
Eccentricity0.9091
1.35 yr (494 days)
204.67°
0° 43m 45.84s / day
Inclination5.4478°
240.63°
27.357°
Earth MOID0.0048 AU · 1.9 LD
Physical characteristics
0.367±0.009 km[3]
0.128±0.032[3]
20.0[1]

(386454) 2008 XM is a highly eccentric, sub-kilometer-sized asteroid, with one of the smallest known perihelions among all minor planets. It is classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group and was discovered on 2 December 2008, by the LINEAR program at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site in Socorro, New Mexico, United States.[2]

Orbit and classification

The asteroid orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.1–2.3 AU once every 16 months (494 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.91 and an inclination of 5° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] Due to its outstanding eccentricity, it is also a Mercury-crosser, Venus-crosser and Mars-crosser.

It has the third-smallest perihelion of any numbered asteroid behind (137924) 2000 BD19 and (374158) 2004 UL.[citation needed] Its Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0047 AU (700,000 km) corresponds to only 1.9 lunar distances.[1]

Physical characteristics

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the asteroid measures 367±9 meters in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.128.[3] As of 2016, the body's composition and spectral type, as well as its rotation period and shape remains unknown.[1]

Naming

As of 2020, this minor planet remains unnamed.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 386454 (2008 XM)" (2014-01-29 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "386454 (2008 XM)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Mainzer, A.; Bauer, J.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Cutri, R. M.; Wright, E.; et al. (April 2014). "The Population of Tiny Near-Earth Objects Observed by NEOWISE". The Astrophysical Journal. 784 (2): 7. arXiv:1310.2980. Bibcode:2014ApJ...784..110M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/784/2/110. Retrieved 26 October 2016.