Fedorets , G , Micheli , M , Jedicke , R , Naidu , S P , Farnocchia , D , Granvik , M , Moskovitz , N , Schwamb , M E , Weryk , R , Wierzchos , K , Christensen , E , Pruyne , T , Bottke , W F , Ye , Q , Wainscoat , R , Devogele , M , Buchanan , L E , Djupvik , A A , Faes , D M , Fohring , D , Roediger , J , Seccull , T & Smith , A B 2020 , ' Establishing Earth's Minimoon Population through Characterization of Asteroid 2020 CD3 ' , Astronomical Journal , vol. 160 , no. 6 , 277 . https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/abc3bc
Title: | Establishing Earth's Minimoon Population through Characterization of Asteroid 2020 CD3 |
Author: | Fedorets, Grigori; Micheli, Marco; Jedicke, Robert; Naidu, Shantanu P.; Farnocchia, Davide; Granvik, Mikael; Moskovitz, Nicholas; Schwamb, Megan E.; Weryk, Robert; Wierzchos, Kacper; Christensen, Eric; Pruyne, Theodore; Bottke, William F.; Ye, Quanzhi; Wainscoat, Richard; Devogele, Maxime; Buchanan, Laura E.; Djupvik, Anlaug Amanda; Faes, Daniel M.; Fohring, Dora; Roediger, Joel; Seccull, Tom; Smith, Adam B. |
Contributor organization: | Department of Physics Planetary-system research Particle Physics and Astrophysics |
Date: | 2020-12 |
Language: | eng |
Number of pages: | 14 |
Belongs to series: | Astronomical Journal |
ISSN: | 0004-6256 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/abc3bc |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10138/336600 |
Abstract: | We report on our detailed characterization of Earth's second known temporary natural satellite, or minimoon, asteroid 2020 CD3. An artificial origin can be ruled out based on its area-to-mass ratio and broadband photometry, which suggest that it is a silicate asteroid belonging to the S or V complex in asteroid taxonomy. The discovery of 2020 CD3 allows for the first time a comparison between known minimoons and theoretical models of their expected physical and dynamical properties. The estimated diameter of 1.2(-0.2)(+0.4) m and geocentric capture approximately a decade after the first known minimoon, 2006.RH120, are in agreement with theoretical predictions. The capture duration of 2020 CD3 of at least 2.7 yr is unexpectedly long compared to the simulation average, but it is in agreement with simulated minimoons that have close lunar encounters, providing additional support for the orbital models. 2020 CD3's atypical rotation period, significantly longer than theoretical predictions, suggests that our understanding of meter-scale asteroids needs revision. More discoveries and a detailed characterization of the population can be expected with the forthcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time. |
Subject: |
Near-Earth objects
Asteroids Transient sources Astrometry Broad band photometry Earth-moon system Light curves Orbit determination RADIATION PRESSURE PHASE FUNCTION DISTRIBUTIONS ORBIT SATELLITES FRAGMENTS PLANETS DENSITY OBJECTS TARGET 115 Astronomy, Space science |
Peer reviewed: | Yes |
Usage restriction: | openAccess |
Self-archived version: | acceptedVersion |
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