2014 EC is a 10-meter sized, eccentric asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group that passed within 48,000 miles (77,000 km) of Earth in early March 2014. This was six times closer to the Earth than the Moon.[4][5] It was first observed on 5 March 2014, by the Catalina Sky Survey at Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, United States. As of 2017, it has not since been observed.[2]
| Discovery[1][2] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Catalina Sky Srvy. |
| Discovery site | Mount Lemmon Obs. |
| Discovery date | 5 March 2014 |
| Designations | |
| 2014 EC | |
| NEO · Apollo[1][2] | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter 6 | |
| Observation arc | (1 day) |
| Aphelion | 2.2257 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.6917 AU |
| 1.4587 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.5258 |
| 1.76 yr (644 days) | |
| 325.66° | |
| 0° 33m 33.84s / day | |
| Inclination | 1.4023° |
| 344.98° | |
| 264.04° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0005 AU · 0.2 LD |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 7 m (estimate at 0.20)[3] 10 m[4] |
| 28.2[1] | |
Description
edit2014 EC has only been observed on two nights for a period of less than 48 hours, with a remaining orbital uncertainty of 4 and 6 respectively.[1][2] It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.7–2.2 AU once every 21 months (644 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.53 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]
The asteroid has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0005 AU (74,800 km) which translates into less than 0.2 lunar distances.[1]
Based on a generic magnitude-to diameter conversion, 2014 EC measures 7 meters in diameter, for a measured absolute magnitude of 28.2 and an assumed albedo of 0.2, which is typical value for stony S-type asteroids.[3] Other sources estimated the body to be approximately 10 meters or 30 feet across.[4] It is too small for being a potentially hazardous asteroid, which require an absolute magnitude of 22.0 or less.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2014 EC)" (2014-03-06 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d "2014 EC". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS/JPL. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ a b c "Even tinier asteroid 2014 EC flies just 48,000 miles from Earth tomorrow". Astro Bob. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ Mike Wall (6 March 2014). "Small Asteroid Gives Earth a Close Shave, 3rd in 2 Days". Space.com. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ "Glossary – PHA (Potentially Hazardous Asteroid)". CNEOS/JPL. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
External links
edit- Small Asteroid Will Pass Earth Safely on Thursday (NASA)
- http://www.space.com/24968-small-asteroid-2014ec-earth-close-shave.html
- 2014 EC at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
- 2014 EC at ESA–space situational awareness
- 2014 EC at the JPL Small-Body Database