4179 Toutatis
SMASSII)[3] | |
8.8–22.4[9][10] | |
15.30[3] | |
4179 Toutatis (
Toutatis is also a
Properties
Toutatis was first sighted on 10 February 1934, as object 1934 CT, but lost soon afterwards.
The spectral properties suggest that this is an S-type, or stony asteroid, consisting primarily of silicates. It has a moderate Bond albedo of 0.13.[3] Radar imagery shows that Toutatis is a highly irregular body consisting of two distinct lobes, with maximum widths of about 4.6 km and 2.4 km, respectively. It is hypothesized that Toutatis formed from two originally separate bodies which coalesced at some point (a contact binary), with the resultant asteroid being compared to a rubble pile.
Its rotation combines two separate periodic motions into a non-periodic result; to someone on the surface of Toutatis, the
Orbit
With a
The low
Close approaches and collision risk
Close approaches[14] | ||
---|---|---|
Year | AU | LD
|
1985 | 0.28 | 109 |
1988 | 0.12 | 45 |
1992 | 0.02 | 9 |
1996 | 0.03 | 14 |
2000 | 0.07 | 29 |
2004 | 0.01 | 4 |
2008 | 0.05 | 20 |
2012 | 0.05 | 18 |
2016 | 0.25 | 98 |
2065 | 0.36 | 142 |
2069 | 0.02 | 8 |
Toutatis makes frequent close approaches to Earth, with a currently minimum possible distance (Earth
Given that Toutatis makes many close approaches to Earth, such as in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016, it is listed as a
In 2006 Toutatis came closer than 2 AU to Jupiter; its orbit lies inside of Jupiter's.[14] In the 2100s, it will approach Jupiter many times at a similar distance.[14]
PHA
|
Date | Approach distance ( lunar dist. )
|
H )
|
Diameter (C) ( m )
|
Ref (D) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nomi- nal(B) |
Mini- mum |
Maxi- mum | |||||
(33342) 1998 WT24 | 1908-12-16 | 3.542 | 3.537 | 3.547 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
(458732) 2011 MD5 | 1918-09-17 | 0.911 | 0.909 | 0.913 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
(7482) 1994 PC1 | 1933-01-17 | 2.927 | 2.927 | 2.928 | 16.8 | 749–1357 | data |
69230 Hermes | 1937-10-30 | 1.926 | 1.926 | 1.927 | 17.5 | 668–2158 | data |
69230 Hermes | 1942-04-26 | 1.651 | 1.651 | 1.651 | 17.5 | 668–2158 | data |
(137108) 1999 AN10 | 1946-08-07 | 2.432 | 2.429 | 2.435 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
(33342) 1998 WT24 | 1956-12-16 | 3.523 | 3.523 | 3.523 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
(163243) 2002 FB3 | 1961-04-12 | 4.903 | 4.900 | 4.906 | 16.4 | 1669–1695 | data |
(192642) 1999 RD32 | 1969-08-27 | 3.627 | 3.625 | 3.630 | 16.3 | 1161–3750 | data |
(143651) 2003 QO104 | 1981-05-18 | 2.761 | 2.760 | 2.761 | 16.0 | 1333–4306 | data |
2017 CH1 | 1992-06-05 | 4.691 | 3.391 | 6.037 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
(170086) 2002 XR14 | 1995-06-24 | 4.259 | 4.259 | 4.260 | 18.0 | 531–1714 | data |
(33342) 1998 WT24 | 2001-12-16 | 4.859 | 4.859 | 4.859 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
4179 Toutatis | 2004-09-29 | 4.031 | 4.031 | 4.031 | 15.3 | 2440–2450 | data |
2014 JO25 |
2017-04-19 | 4.573 | 4.573 | 4.573 | 17.8 | 582–1879 | data |
(137108) 1999 AN10 | 2027-08-07 | 1.014 | 1.010 | 1.019 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
(35396) 1997 XF11 | 2028-10-26 | 2.417 | 2.417 | 2.418 | 16.9 | 881–2845 | data |
(154276) 2002 SY50 | 2071-10-30 | 3.415 | 3.412 | 3.418 | 17.6 | 714–1406 | data |
(164121) 2003 YT1 | 2073-04-29 | 4.409 | 4.409 | 4.409 | 16.2 | 1167–2267 | data |
(385343) 2002 LV | 2076-08-04 | 4.184 | 4.183 | 4.185 | 16.6 | 1011–3266 | data |
(52768) 1998 OR2 | 2079-04-16 | 4.611 | 4.611 | 4.612 | 15.8 | 1462–4721 | data |
(33342) 1998 WT24 | 2099-12-18 | 4.919 | 4.919 | 4.919 | 17.9 | 556–1795 | data |
(85182) 1991 AQ | 2130-01-27 | 4.140 | 4.139 | 4.141 | 17.1 | 1100 | data |
314082 Dryope |
2186-07-16 | 3.709 | 2.996 | 4.786 | 17.5 | 668–2158 | data |
(137126) 1999 CF9 | 2192-08-21 | 4.970 | 4.967 | 4.973 | 18.0 | 531–1714 | data |
(290772) 2005 VC | 2198-05-05 | 1.951 | 1.791 | 2.134 | 17.6 | 638–2061 | data |
(A) List includes near-Earth approaches of less than 5 JPL SBDB, with AU converted into LD (1 AU≈390 LD)(E) Color codes: unobserved at close approach observed during close approach upcoming approaches |
Physical characteristics
Large amounts of data of Toutatis were obtained during Chang'e 2's flyby. Toutatis is not a monolith, but most likely a coalescence of shattered fragments. This bifurcated asteroid is shown to be mainly consisting of a head (small lobe) and a body (large lobe). The two major parts are not round in shape, and their surfaces have a number of large facets. In comparison with radar models, the proximate observations from Chang'e 2's flyby have revealed several remarkable discoveries concerning Toutatis, among which the presence of the giant basin at the big end appears to be one of the most compelling geological features, and the sharply perpendicular silhouette in the neck region that connects the head and body is also quite novel. A large number of boulders and several short linear structures are also apparent on the surface.[5]
Giant basin
The giant basin at the big end of Toutatis has a diameter of ~805 m, suggesting that one or more impactors may have collided with it there. The most significant feature is the ridge around the largest basin. The wall of this basin has a relatively high density of lineaments, some of which seem to be concentric to the basin. These ridges are indicative of an internal structure of small bodies and most of the ridges near the largest basin at the big end are most likely related to the huge stress energy during impact.[5]
Observation
Toutatis has been observed with radar imaging from the Arecibo Observatory and the Goldstone Solar System Radar during the asteroid's prior Earth flybys in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008. It was also observed with radar during the December 2012 flyby and observed more distant flyby with radar in December 2016.[29] After 2016, Toutatis will not pass close to Earth again until 2069.
Resolution of the radar images is as fine as 3.75 m per pixel,[30] providing data to model Toutatis's shape and spin state.
Exploration
The Chinese lunar probe Chang'e 2 departed from the Sun–Earth L2 point in April 2012[31] and made a flyby of Toutatis on 13 December 2012, with closest approach being 3.2 kilometers and a relative velocity of 10.73 km/s, when Toutatis was near its closest approach to Earth.[13][32][33] It took several pictures of the asteroid, revealing it to be a dusty red/orange color.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "4179 Toutatis (1989 AC)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 4179 Toutatis (1989 AC)" (2017-05-27 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Hudson, "Gravitational Isopotentials on Toutatis"
- ^ PMID 24336501.
- ^ .
- ^ .
- ^ "LCDB Data for (4179) Toutatis". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ a b "AstDys (4179) Toutatis Ephemerides for 2004". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ "AstDys (4179) Toutatis Ephemerides 2059". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ "Asteroid 4179 Toutasis". NASA. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Trick or Treat: It's Toutatis!". Science@Nasa. 31 October 2000. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
- ^ a b Lakdawalla, Emily (14 December 2012). "Chang'E 2 imaging of Toutatis succeeded beyond my expectations!". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "JPL Close-Approach Data: 4179 Toutatis (1989 AC)" (2011-05-22 last obs (arc=77.28 years)). Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- ^ "(4179) Toutatis = 1934 CT = 1989 AC". IAU Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ^ "By Toutatis! France unveils statue to Asterix creator". France 24. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- .
- Bibcode:2007DPS....39.0507B.
- ^ "Toutatis is in a 3:1 mean-motion resonance with Jupiter (rotating frame)". Gravity Simulator. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
- ^ .
- ^ "The Minor Planet Bulletin" (PDF). Association of Lunar and Planetary Onservers. 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ "Solex by Aldo Vitagliano". Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
- ^ a b c "NEODys (4179) Toutatis Close Approaches". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
- ^ "NEODys (4179) Toutatis Ephemerides for December 2012". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ "(4179) Toutatis = 1934 CT = 1989 AC". IAU Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- hdl:2014/19433. Archived(PDF) from the original on 22 September 2017.
- ^ "Close call for earth ahead? – possible collision with asteroid Toutatis". USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education). 1993. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012.
- ^ David Morrison (27 September 2004). "Close Flyby This Week from Asteroid Toutatis". Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards (NASA). Archived from the original on 14 February 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ "2012 Goldstone Radar Observations of (4179) Toutatis". Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Big Asteroid Tumbles Harmlessly Past Earth". NASA. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ Lakdawalla, Emily (14 June 2012). "Chang'E 2 has departed Earth's neighborhood for.....asteroid Toutatis!?". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ ""Pseudo-MPEC" for 2010-050A = SM999CF = Chang'e 2 probe". Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "[视频]"嫦娥二号"飞越探测小行星_新闻台_中国网络电视台". News.cntv.cn. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
External links
- More Chang'E 2 Toutatis flyby images (Emily Lakdawalla : 2013/01/20)
- Chang'E 2 images of Toutatis - 13 December 2012 Archived 29 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine (Planetary Society)
- CCTV13 Special (all in Mandarin)
- China joined the interplanetary club by successfully imaging the asteroid Toutatis (Franck Marchis, 14 December 2012)
- Chinese space probe flies by asteroid Toutatis (Xinhua 2012-12-15)
- Surface Features of Asteroid Toutatis Revealed by Radar (YouTube: JPLnews)
- Goldstone radar images from the 2012 flyby
- Toutatis radar information
- Space.com: Video of Toutatis's close approach to Earth, 29 Sept, 2004
- Interesting views of asteroid
- Astrobiology Magazine article (09/27/04)
- Simulating the orbit of Toutatis exposes its resonance with Jupiter (Gravity Simulator)
- Asteroid 4179 Toutatis' upcoming encounters with Earth and Chang'E 2 (Emily Lakdawalla 2012-12-06)
- Six-Centimeter Radar Observations of 4179 Toutatis
- Size comparison (Source)
- Chang'e 2 fly-by of Toutatis Presentation from Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) 8 meeting
- Boulders on asteroid Toutatis as observed by Chang'e-2 (arXiv:1511.00766 : 3 Nov 2015)
- 4179 Toutatis at AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site
- 4179 Toutatis at ESA–space situational awareness
- 4179 Toutatis at the JPL Small-Body Database