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2016 AZ8

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2016 AZ8
Radar images of 2016 AZ8 and its satellite by the Arecibo Observatory in January 2019
Discovery[1]
Discovered byWISE
Discovery siteEarth orbit
Discovery date3 January 2016
Designations
2016 AZ8
NEO · Apollo[1][2]
PHA[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc3.69 yr (1,347 d)
Aphelion1.7895 AU
Perihelion0.8516 AU
1.3205 AU
Eccentricity0.3551
1.52 yr (554 d)
99.623°
0° 38m 58.2s / day
Inclination5.5862°
90.016°
318.51°
Known satellites1[3]
Earth MOID0.0295 AU (11.49 LD)
Physical characteristics
215±52 m[2]
21.0[2]

2016 AZ8 is a sub-kilometer asteroid and near-Earth object of the Apollo group, at least 400 meters (1,300 feet) in diameter.[1][3] It was first observed on 3 January 2016, by the WISE telescope with precovery images found back in 2012.

The potentially hazardous asteroid is a binary system with a minor-planet moon in its orbit. The discovery was made by astronomers at Arecibo Observatory on 4 January 2019, while 2016 AZ8 was passing within 4,460,000 kilometers (0.0298 AU) of the Earth.[3] The binary has a secondary-to-primary diameter ratio of at least 0.3.[3]

Orbit and classification

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2016 AZ8 orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.85–1.8 AU once every 18 months (554 days; semi-major axis of 1.32 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.36 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at the Siding Spring Survey in July 2012, more than three years prior to its official discovery observation.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "2016 AZ8". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2016 AZ8)" (2016-03-29 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Arecibo Radar". Twitter. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
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