3200 Phaethon
Synodic rotation period | 3.604 hours (0.1502 d)[1] | |
0.1066±0.011[1] | ||
F-type asteroid[1][7] | ||
10.7 (December 14, 2017) | ||
14.6[1] | ||
3200 Phaethon (/ˈfeɪ.əˌθɒn/; previously sometimes spelled Phaeton), provisionally designated 1983 TB, is an active[8] Apollo asteroid with an orbit that brings it closer to the Sun than any other named asteroid (though there are numerous unnamed asteroids with smaller perihelia, such as (137924) 2000 BD19).[9] For this reason, it was named after the Greek myth of Phaëthon, son of the sun god Helios. It is 5.8 km (3.6 mi) in diameter[6] and is the parent body of the Geminids meteor shower of mid-December. With an observation arc of 35+ years, it has a very well determined orbit.[1] The 2017 Earth approach distance of about 10 million km was known with an accuracy of ±700 m.[1]
Discovery
Phaethon was the first asteroid to be discovered using images from a spacecraft.
Orbital characteristics
Phaethon is categorized as an
Its most remarkable distinction is that it approaches the Sun closer than any other named asteroid: its
Phaethon is a possible candidate for detecting
Potentially hazardous asteroid
Phaethon is categorized as a
PHA
|
Date | Approach distance in lunar distances
|
H )
|
Diameter (C) ( m )
|
Ref (D) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nominal (B) | Minimum | Maximum | |||||
(143651) 2003 QO104 | 1981-05-18 | 2.761 | 2.760 | 2.761 | 16.0 | 1333–4306 | data |
2014 LJ21 | 1989-08-01 | 7.034 | 6.843 | 7.224 | 16.0 | 1333–4306 | data |
4179 Toutatis | 1992-12-08 | 9.399 | 9.399 | 9.399 | 15.30 | 2440–2450 | data |
4179 Toutatis | 2004-09-29 | 4.031 | 4.031 | 4.031 | 15.30 | 2440–2450 | data |
(159857) 2004 LJ1 | 2038-11-16 | 7.719 | 7.719 | 7.719 | 15.4 | 1746–4394 | data |
(4953) 1990 MU | 2058-06-05 | 8.986 | 8.984 | 8.988 | 14.1 | 3199–10329 | data |
4179 Toutatis | 2069-11-05 | 7.725 | 7.724 | 7.725 | 15.30 | 2440–2450 | data |
(52768) 1998 OR2 | 2079-04-16 | 4.611 | 4.611 | 4.612 | 15.8 | 1462–4721 | data |
(415029) 2011 UL21 | 2089-06-25 | 6.936 | 6.935 | 6.938 | 15.7 | 1531–4944 | data |
3200 Phaethon | 2093-12-14 | 7.714 | 7.709 | 7.718 | 14.6 | 4900–5300 | data |
(52768) 1998 OR2 | 2127-04-16 | 6.536 | 6.510 | 6.563 | 15.8 | 1462–4721 | data |
(A) This list includes near-Earth approaches of less than 10 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
Phaethon is an asteroid with fairly unusual characteristics in that its orbit more closely resembles that of a comet than an asteroid; it has been referred to as a "rock comet".[16] In studies performed by NASA's STEREO spacecraft in 2009 and 2012, rapid brightening and dust tail have been observed.[17][18][19] It is possible that the Sun's heat is causing fractures similar to
In 2018, observations revealed that Phaethon was blue in color. This is extremely rare, as most asteroids tend to be grey or red.[21][22] In 2020, polarimetric study revealed Phaethon has a surface with steep slopes covered by a mix of regolith with larger pebbles.[23] Phaethon's composition fits the notion of its cometary origin; it is classified as a F-type asteroid because it is composed of dark material[1][7] or a B-type asteroid because of its blue color.[24] In 2022 it was shown [25][26] how Phaethon's blue color and its rock-comet-like emission activity can be explained by the effects of the intense solar heating at perihelion causing sublimation of any darkish-red refractory organic, nano-phase iron (nFe0), and pyroxene materials on its surface.
Analysis of a mid-infrared spectral emissivity spectrum from the
Meteor shower
Shortly after its discovery,
Planned flyby
DESTINY+ (Demonstration and Experiment of Space Technology for INterplanetary voYage Phaethon fLyby dUSt science) is a planned mission to fly by 3200 Phaethon, as well as various minor bodies originating from it. The spacecraft is being developed by the Japanese space agency JAXA, and will demonstrate advanced technologies for future deep space exploration. DESTINY+ is planned to be launched no earlier than 2024.[29]
Close approaches
Phaethon approached to 0.120895 AU (18,085,600 km; 11,237,900 mi) of Earth on December 10, 2007,[1] and was detected by radar at Arecibo.[11] When Phaethon came to perihelion in July 2009, it was found to be brighter than expected.[30][31] During its approach, the STEREO-A spacecraft detected an unexpected brightening, roughly by a factor of two.[16]
2010 approach
2017 approach
On December 16, 2017, at 23:00
The asteroid was bright enough to see in small telescopes, peaking at magnitude 10.8 between December 13–15 while dimming slightly to magnitude 11 on December 16 at closest approach.[32] Arecibo made observations of Phaethon from December 15–19.[6] It will not make an Earth approach closer than the 2017 passage until December 14, 2093, when it will pass 0.01981 AU (2,964,000 km; 1,841,000 mi) from Earth.[1][33]
Notes
- ^ In 2014, JPL 374 (solution date 2014-Sep-12) showed a 2017 Earth approach distance with a precision of ±80 km. Math: (MAX−MIN) * AU / 2
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "JPL Small-Body Database: 3200 Phaethon (1983 TB)". JPL Small-Body Database. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ "phaeton". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- ^ JPL Horizons Observer Location: @sun (Perihelion occurs when deldot changes from negative to positive.)
- ^ "(3200) Phaethon Orbit". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ "(3200) Phaethon 2021 Oct 3". Hayamizu Astro Laboratory. October 3, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ a b c Agle, D. C.; Brown, Dwayne; Farukhi, Suraiya (December 22, 2017). "Arecibo Radar Returns with Asteroid Phaethon Images". NASA. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- ^ Bibcode:2019CoSka..49..367K
- ^ S2CID 119209764. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Search Engine — Constraints: asteroids and q < 0.141 (au)". JPL Small-Body Database. Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved September 5, 2011. Take notice of the orbit condition number (the lower the number, the lower the orbit's uncertainty).
- ^ Jaggard, Victoria (October 12, 2010). "Exploding Clays Drive Geminids Sky Show?". National Geographic. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Benner, Lance A. M. (2017). "Goldstone Radar Observations Planning: Asteroid 3200 Phaethon". NASA/JPL Asteroid Radar Research. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- . 15.
- ISSN 2632-3338.
- ^ Phillips, Tony (December 3, 2007). "Asteroid Shower". Science@NASA. NASA. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- ^ "NEO Groups". Near Earth Object Program. NASA. Archived from the original on November 2, 2016.
- ^ S2CID 6446528.
- S2CID 37387069.
- S2CID 6242944. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- S2CID 6446528. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ Sutherland, Paul (September 10, 2013). "Why an asteroid is crumbling into meteor dust". Skymania.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ Eleanor Imster (November 1, 2018). "Rare blue asteroid sometimes behaves like a comet". EarthSky. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ Eric Mack (October 23, 2018). "A look at 3200 Phaethon: A big, bizarre, blue asteroid we plan to visit". CNET. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- arXiv:2001.00789 [astro-ph.EP].
- S2CID 130052649.
- S2CID 247594726.
- ^ How the bluest asteroid in the solar system got its color Tereza Pultarova, Space.com. June 16th, 2022
- .
- Bibcode:1983IAUC.3881....1W.
- ^ Kuninaka, Hitoshi (May 19, 2020). "宇宙科学ミッション打上げ計画について" (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Shanklin, Jonathan (2009). "Comet Section: 2009 News". British Astronomical Association. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- Bibcode:2009IAUC.9054....3B.
- ^ "(3200) Phaethon: Ephemerides for December 2017". NEODyS-2. University of Pisa Department of Mathematics. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ^ "(3200) Phaethon: Close Approaches". NEODyS-2. University of Pisa Department of Mathematics. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
External links
- (3200) Phaethon by the Associazione Friulana di Astronomia e Meteorologia
- "The 2004 Geminid Meteor Shower" by Science@NASA
- "ScienceCasts: Rock Comet Meteor Shower" by Science@NASA on YouTube.com
- Phaethon orbit and observations at IAUMinor Planet Center
- 3200 Phaethon at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 3200 Phaethon at ESA–space situational awareness
- 3200 Phaethon at the JPL Small-Body Database