2007 VK184

2007 VK184 is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, and estimated to be approximately 130 meters (430 ft) in diameter.[4] It was listed on the Sentry Risk Table with a Torino Scale rating of 1.[4] A Torino scale rating of 1 is a routine discovery in which a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger.[5]

2007 VK184
The 2014 close approach of 2007 VK184[1]
Discovery[2]
Discovered byCatalina Sky Survey (703)
Discovery date12 November 2007
Designations
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 23 May 2014 (JD 2456800.5)[3]
Uncertainty parameter 1[3]
Aphelion2.7104 AU
Perihelion0.74227 AU
1.7263 AU
Eccentricity0.57003
828.49 d (2.27 yr)
15.6 km/s
338.50°
Inclination1.2225°
253.96°
73.159°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
~130 meters (430 ft)[4]
Mass3.3×109 kg (assumed)[4]
22.0[3]

    Description

    2007 VK184 was discovered on 12 November 2007 by the Catalina Sky Survey.[2] It was recovered on 26 March 2014 by Mauna Kea,[6][7] and removed from the Sentry Risk Table on 28 March 2014.[8] By 4 January 2008, with an observation arc of 52 days, there was a 1 in 2700 chance of an impact with Earth on 3 June 2048.[9] The Sentry Risk Table, using an observation arc of 60 days, showed the asteroid had a 1 in 1820 chance (0.055%) of impacting Earth on 3 June 2048.[4] Since the March 2014 recovery, it is known that the asteroid will pass 0.013 AU (1,900,000 km; 1,200,000 mi) from Earth on 2 June 2048.[1]

    2014 passage

    Before the 2014 close approach, the asteroid had a modest observation arc of 60 days,[4] and the imprecise trajectory of this asteroid was complicated by close approaches to Earth, Venus and Mars.[1] On 23 May 2014, the asteroid passed 0.17 AU (25,000,000 km; 16,000,000 mi) from Earth[1] and reached an apparent magnitude of ~20.8.[10] As expected the close approach allowed astronomers to recover the asteroid on 26 March 2014 and refine the odds of a future collision.[7] As the asteroid gets closer to Earth, the positional uncertainty becomes larger.[11] By recovering the asteroid well before closest approach you can avoid searching a larger region of the sky.[11] Most asteroids rated 1 on the Torino Scale are later downgraded to 0 after more observations come in.

    Risk assessments were calculated based on a diameter of 130 meters.[4] It was estimated that, if it were ever to impact Earth, it would enter the atmosphere at a speed of 19.2 km/s and would have a kinetic energy equivalent to 150 megatons of TNT.[4] Assuming the target surface is sedimentary rock, the asteroid would impact the ground with the equivalent of 40 megatons of TNT and create a 2.1 kilometers (1.3 mi) impact crater.[12] Asteroids of approximately 130 meters in diameter are expected to impact Earth once every 11000 years or so.[12]

    On 26–27 March 2014, additional observations were made which ruled out the chance of an impact in 2048.[11]

    See also
    • 99942 Apophis, a NEO that, for a few days, was thought to have a slight probability of striking the Earth in 2029. But the likelihood that would happen was quickly determined to be zero.

    References
    1. "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2007 VK184)" (last observation: 2014-03-27; arc: 6.37 years). Retrieved 1 April 2014.
    2. "MPEC 2007-V94 : 2007 VK184". IAU Minor Planet Center. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
    3. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2007 VK184)" (last observation: 2014-03-27; arc: 6.37 years). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
    4. "2007 VK184 Earth Impact Risk Summary". Wayback Machine:NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 17 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
    5. "The Torino Impact Hazard Scale". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 13 April 2005. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
    6. "MPEC 2014-F50 : 2007 VK184". IAU Minor Planet Center. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
    7. "2007 VK184 Orbit". IAU Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
    8. "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
    9. "WayBack Machine archive from 10 Jan 2008". Wayback Machine. 10 January 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
    10. "2012 VK184 Ephemerides for 23 May 2014". NEODyS (Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 21 February 2013.
    11. "Asteroid 2007 VK184 Eliminated as Impact Risk to Earth". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 2 April 2014. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
    12. Robert Marcus; H. Jay Melosh & Gareth Collins (2010). "Earth Impact Effects Program". Imperial College London / Purdue University. Retrieved 20 February 2013. (solution using 130 meters, 2600 kg/m3, 19.2 km/s, 45 degrees, target: sedimentary rock)
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