2011 MD is a bright micro-asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo and Amor group, respectively.[1][3] On 27 June 2011, at around 17:00 UTC (13:00 EDT), the object passed exceptionally close to Earth's surface at a distance of approximately 12,000 kilometers (7,500 mi), roughly the diameter of the Earth.[6][7][8]
Although 2011 MD was initially believed to be space junk, subsequent observations confirmed that it is an asteroid. A few hours before the asteroid's nearest approach in 2011, it appeared close to the Sun, so observations were possible for only a brief period. Backyard astronomers were able to observe it with telescopes from Australia, southern Africa, and the Americas.[7]
2011 MD was discovered on 22 June 2011, by astronomers of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) at the U.S. Lincoln Laboratory Experimental Test Site in Socorro, New Mexico, by a pair of robotic telescopes. According to original rough estimates, the asteroid's length was between 10 and 45 meters (30 and 150 ft).[3][9] However, according to the more recent absolute magnitude (H) measurement of 28.1[1] and its albedo of 0.3, the asteroid is closer to 6 meters or 20 feet in diameter.[5]
Emily Baldwin of Astronomy Now said that there was no threat of collision, and should the asteroid enter Earth's atmosphere, it would "mostly burn up in a brilliant fireball, possibly scattering a few meteorites", causing no likely harm to life or property on the ground.[9]
The 27 June 2011 close approach to Earth increased the orbital period of 2011 MD from 380 days to 396 days. During close approach the asteroid passed Earth at a relative speed of 6.7 km/s[1] with a geocentric eccentricity of 1.1.
2011 MD was observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope in February 2014 and estimated to be 6 meters (20 ft) in diameter.[4] The asteroid is a porousrubble pile with a density similar to water.[4] On 19 June 2014, NASA reported that asteroid 2011 MD was a prime candidate for capture by the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) in the early 2020s.[10]
^ abcMommert, M.; et al. (2014). "Physical properties of near-earth asteroid 2011 MD". Astrophys. J. 789 (1): L22. arXiv:1406.5253. Bibcode:2014ApJ...789L..22M. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/789/1/L22. S2CID 67851874.
^Don Yeomans & Paul Chodas (23 June 2011). . NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
^ abTony Flanders (23 June 2011). "Asteroid To Buzz Earth Monday, June 27th". Sky & Telescope observing blog. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
^"Asteroid Just Buzzed Earth—Came Closer Than the Moon".
^ abPaul Sutherland (23 June 2011). . Skymania: Astronomy and space guide. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
^Borenstein, Seth (19 June 2014). "Rock that whizzed by Earth may be grabbed by NASA". AP News. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
^"The Spacious Structure of Asteroid 2011 MD (Artist's Concept)". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Retrieved 13 April 2022.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2011 MD.
Encounter animations 27 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine (Pasquale Tricarico)
2011 MD at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
Ephemerides · Observation prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Observational info · Close approaches · Physical info · Orbit animation
Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters
August 24, 2023
2011, bright, micro, asteroid, classified, near, earth, object, apollo, amor, group, respectively, june, 2011, around, object, passed, exceptionally, close, earth, surface, distance, approximately, kilometers, roughly, diameter, earth, imaged, spitzer, februar. 2011 MD is a bright micro asteroid classified as near Earth object of the Apollo and Amor group respectively 1 3 On 27 June 2011 at around 17 00 UTC 13 00 EDT the object passed exceptionally close to Earth s surface at a distance of approximately 12 000 kilometers 7 500 mi roughly the diameter of the Earth 6 7 8 2011 MD2011 MD imaged by Spitzer in February 2014Discovery 1 2 Discovered byLINEARDiscovery siteLincoln Lab s ETSDiscovery date2011 June 22 first observed only DesignationsMPC designation2011 MDMinor planet categoryNEO Apollo 1 Amor 3 Orbital characteristics 1 Epoch 13 July 2011 JD 2455755 5 Uncertainty parameter 2 1 0 3 Observation arc2 65 yr 967 days Aphelion1 1031 AUPerihelion1 0161 AUSemi major axis1 0596 AUEccentricity0 0411Orbital period sidereal 1 09 yr 398 days Mean anomaly11 051 Mean motion0 54m 13 32s dayInclination2 5624 Longitude of ascending node273 96 Argument of perihelion4 6748 Earth MOID0 0003 AU 0 1 LD Physical characteristicsMean diameter6 m estimate 4 5 Mean density1 g cm3 est rubble pile 4 Synodic rotation period0 1937 h 1 Geometric albedo0 3 5 Absolute magnitude H 28 0 1 Contents 1 Description 1 1 Gallery 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksDescription Edit 2011 MD on 26 June 2011Although 2011 MD was initially believed to be space junk subsequent observations confirmed that it is an asteroid A few hours before the asteroid s nearest approach in 2011 it appeared close to the Sun so observations were possible for only a brief period Backyard astronomers were able to observe it with telescopes from Australia southern Africa and the Americas 7 2011 MD was discovered on 22 June 2011 by astronomers of the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research LINEAR at the U S Lincoln Laboratory Experimental Test Site in Socorro New Mexico by a pair of robotic telescopes According to original rough estimates the asteroid s length was between 10 and 45 meters 30 and 150 ft 3 9 However according to the more recent absolute magnitude H measurement of 28 1 1 and its albedo of 0 3 the asteroid is closer to 6 meters or 20 feet in diameter 5 Emily Baldwin of Astronomy Now said that there was no threat of collision and should the asteroid enter Earth s atmosphere it would mostly burn up in a brilliant fireball possibly scattering a few meteorites causing no likely harm to life or property on the ground 9 The 27 June 2011 close approach to Earth increased the orbital period of 2011 MD from 380 days to 396 days During close approach the asteroid passed Earth at a relative speed of 6 7 km s 1 with a geocentric eccentricity of 1 1 2011 MD was observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope in February 2014 and estimated to be 6 meters 20 ft in diameter 4 The asteroid is a porous rubble pile with a density similar to water 4 On 19 June 2014 NASA reported that asteroid 2011 MD was a prime candidate for capture by the Asteroid Redirect Mission ARM in the early 2020s 10 Parameter Epoch aphelion Q perihelion q Semi majoraxis a eccentricity e Period p inclination i Longitudeascendingnode W Meananomaly M Argumentofperihelion w Units AU days Pre flyby 2011 Jun 01 1 043 1 006 1 025 0 01804 379 1 2 739 97 79 269 8 244 3 Post flyby 2011 Aug 01 1 097 1 016 1 056 0 03875 396 9 2 477 273 0 29 09 4 734 Gallery Edit Trajectory of 2011 MD projected onto the Earth s orbital plane Note from this viewing angle the asteroid passes underneath the Earth Trajectory of 2011 MD from the general direction of the Sun Artist s concept of spacious structure of asteroid 2011 MD 11 See also EditAsteroid capture Asteroid Redirect MissionReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i JPL Small Body Database Browser 2011 MD 2014 02 12 last obs Jet Propulsion Laboratory Retrieved 7 February 2018 MPEC 2011 M23 2011 MD IAU Minor Planet Center 23 June 2011 Retrieved 5 January 2013 K11M00D a b c d 2011 MD Minor Planet Center Retrieved 7 February 2018 a b c d NASA JPL NASA Announces Latest Progress in Hunt for Asteroids Jet Propulsion Laboratory Retrieved 19 June 2014 a b c Mommert M et al 2014 Physical properties of near earth asteroid 2011 MD Astrophys J 789 1 L22 arXiv 1406 5253 Bibcode 2014ApJ 789L 22M doi 10 1088 2041 8205 789 1 L22 S2CID 67851874 Don Yeomans amp Paul Chodas 23 June 2011 Bend it Like Beckham Small Asteroid to Whip Past Earth on June 27 2011 NASA JPL Near Earth Object Program Office Archived from the original on 4 July 2011 Retrieved 26 June 2011 a b Tony Flanders 23 June 2011 Asteroid To Buzz Earth Monday June 27th Sky amp Telescope observing blog Retrieved 27 June 2011 Asteroid Just Buzzed Earth Came Closer Than the Moon a b Paul Sutherland 23 June 2011 Incoming Another asteroid to skim by Skymania Astronomy and space guide Archived from the original on 1 July 2011 Retrieved 26 June 2011 Borenstein Seth 19 June 2014 Rock that whizzed by Earth may be grabbed by NASA AP News Retrieved 20 June 2014 The Spacious Structure of Asteroid 2011 MD Artist s Concept NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL Retrieved 13 April 2022 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2011 MD Encounter animations Archived 27 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Pasquale Tricarico 2011 MD at NeoDyS 2 Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site Ephemerides Observation prediction Orbital info MOID Proper elements Observational info Close approaches Physical info Orbit animation 2011 MD at ESA space situational awareness Ephemerides Observations Orbit Physical properties Summary 2011 MD at the JPL Small Body Database Close approach Discovery Ephemeris Orbit diagram Orbital elements Physical parameters Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2011 MD amp oldid 1122864446, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
