Close Approach of Asteroid 2012 TC4 Poses No Danger to Earth 10 October 2017, by Tomasz Nowakowski, Astrowatch.Net

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Close approach of asteroid 2012 TC4 poses no danger to Earth 10 October 2017, by Tomasz Nowakowski, Astrowatch.net

1.67 years at a distance of about 1.4 AU. Astronomers estimate that 2012 TC4 has a diameter between 26 to 85 feet (8 to 26 meters).

Calculations revealed by JPL in July 2017 indicated that 2012 TC4 could pass as close as 4,200 miles (6,800 kilometers). These results were based on only seven days of tracking of this asteroid after it was discovered. However, new observations of this space rock conducted at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) by Olivier Hainaut, Detlef Koschny and Marco Micheli of the European Space Agency (ESA) in July and August 2017, show different estimates.

"The new calculations indicate that TC4 will fly The house-sized asteroid 2012 TC4 is slated to safely past our planet on Oct. 12, at a distance of give Earth a close shave on Thursday, October 12, about 43,500 kilometers (27,000 miles) above the swooshing by our planet at approximately 5:41 surface, or about one-eighth of the distance to the UTC (1:41 a.m. EDT) at a distance of about 31,000 moon," JPL reported. miles (50,000 kilometers). Although there were some worries that this rocky object could hit the Therefore, new data provided by the latest Earth, latest observations confirm that it poses no observational campaign exclude the possibility of danger to our home planet at all. 2012 TC4 hitting our planet. Harris emphasizes that even if this asteroid crashed into Earth, it would not "The actual miss distance is pinned down to cause any major damage. around 50,000 kilometers, which makes it about a once in two years occurrence, a bit noteworthy, but "It is small enough (about the size of the not really a very big deal. There is no hazard in its Chelyabinsk meteor) that even if it impacted, it upcoming pass or anytime in the near future," Alan would be unlikely to cause any major damage. Harris, a former Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Recall that the Chelyabinsk meteor only caused researcher told Astrowatch.net. substantial damage and injuries because it chanced to hit over a populated area. Over most of Asteroid 2012 TC4 was discovered on Oct. 4, 2012 the Earth's area, it would have been completely by the Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii. Week harmless," Harris said. later, it gave Earth a close shave when it passed the planet at the distance of 0.247 LD (lunar The meteor that exploded over the Russian city of distance), or 58,900 miles (94,800 kilometers). Chelyabinsk in February 2013, injuring 1,500 people and damaging over 7,000 buildings, was Observations reveal that 2012 TC4 is an elongated about 66 feet (20 meters) wide. and rapidly rotating object that has been known to make many close approaches to Earth in the past. The upcoming close approach of 2012 TC4 will The space rock orbits the sun approximately every offer a great opportunity for astronomers worldwide to observe an asteroid from a relatively close

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distance. The asteroid's fly-by will be also monitored by the International Asteroid Warning Network as part of an exercise of the recovery, characterization and reporting of a potentially hazardous object approaching Earth.

"The October pass will bring the asteroid up to magnitude 14, so extensive physical studies will be possible, but only briefly. It probably is a fast rotator (period under an hour) so full rotational coverage likely can be obtained in a single night," Harris told Astrowatch.net.

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