2014 RC

2014 RC is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group. On 7 September 2014, it passed within 0.000267 AU (39,900 km; 24,800 mi) (0.1 LD) of Earth. The asteroid is approximately the diameter of the Chelyabinsk meteor,[4] and passed almost as close to Earth as 367943 Duende (2012 DA14) did in 2013.

2014 RC
2014 RC imaged by the Goldstone Radar on 7 September 2014
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered by
Discovery date1–2 September 2014
Designations
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 13 January 2016 (JD 2457400.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc18 days w/Radar
Aphelion1.803891 AU (269.8583 Gm)
Perihelion0.8206096 AU (122.76145 Gm)
1.312251 AU (196.3100 Gm)
Eccentricity0.3746548
1.50 yr (549.06 d)[3]
287.9332°
0° 39m 20.377s / day
Inclination4.573941°
345.005065°
71.17158°
Earth MOID0.000643292 AU (96,235.1 km)
Jupiter MOID3.5698 AU (534.03 Gm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions
  • 22 m (72 ft) (largest axis)[4]
  • 12–25 m (39–82 ft)[5]
Mean density
>2.5 (assumed based on rotation/spectra)
  • 15.8 seconds[4]
  • 0.004389 h (15.80 s)[3]
Sq-class[4]
  • 11-41
  • 28 (Nov/Dec 2014)
26.8[3]

    With an absolute magnitude of 26.8,[3] the asteroid is about 11–25 meters (36–82 ft) in diameter depending on the albedo.[5] Observations by the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility conclude the asteroid is a fairly bright Sq-class asteroid which have an average albedo of around 0.24, and would give the asteroid a spherical equivalent diameter of 12 meters (39 ft).[4] Measurements by multiple telescopes indicate that the asteroid rotates in 15.8 seconds making it one of the fastest rotating asteroids so far discovered.[4] Using the 15.8 second rotation period, more accurate radar observations by Goldstone shows the asteroid has a largest axis of at least 22 meters (72 ft).[4] Due to the asteroid's fast rotation, it is a monolith and not a rubble pile.

    On 8 September 2115 the asteroid will pass about 0.0053 AU (790,000 km; 490,000 mi) from the moon.[3] On 5 September 1973, the asteroid passed between 0.01052 AU (1,574,000 km; 978,000 mi) and 0.01207 AU (1,806,000 km; 1,122,000 mi) from Earth.[3] 2014 RC was removed from the JPL Sentry Risk Table on 5 September 2014 and there are no known possible impact dates in the next 100 years.[6]

    2014 approach

    It made a close approach to Earth of 0.000267 AU (39,900 km; 24,800 mi) (0.1 lunar distances) around 18:02 UTC on 7 September 2014.[3][7][8] The asteroid briefly brightened to about apparent magnitude 11.5,[9] but it was still not visible to the naked eye or common binoculars. At the peak brightness the asteroid had a declination of –47,[9] and was most easily visible over New Zealand. During 2014, asteroids 2014 AA and 2014 LY21 have come closer to Earth.

    Asteroid 2014 RC[8]
    Path around the Sun – 3 September 2014.
    Path near the Earth – 7 September 2014.

    The Managua explosion on 6 September 2014 may or may not have been created by a bolide that was missed by millions of people, but either way it was not caused by the close approach of 2014 RC.[4]

    Orbital shift

    During the 2014 Earth close approach the orbital period of 2014 RC was reduced from 600 days to 549 days.[10] The orbital eccentricity decreased while the orbital inclination increased.

    Parameter Epoch Aphelion
    (Q)    		 Perihelion
    (q)    		 Semi-major axis
    (a)    		 Eccentricity
    (e)    		 Period
    (p)    		 Inclination
    (i)    		 Longitude ascending node
    (Ω)    		 Mean anomaly
    (M)    		 Argument of perihelion
    (ω)
    Units AU (days) (°)
    Pre-flyby 2014-09-01 1.9488 0.8344 1.3916 0.4004 599.62 1.4395° 345.48° 326.12° 65.879°
    flyby 2014-09-07 18:02 UTC 2.0284 0.8150 1.4217 0.4267 619.17 1.4217° 345.09° 330.91° 68.602°
    Post-flyby 2014-10-01 1.8042 0.8207 1.3124 0.3747 549.18 4.5744° 345.01° 340.41° 71.187°

    Close-approach table
    Object Date (UTC) Date
    error
    (hours)    		 Nominal
    distance
    (AU)    		 Nominal
    distance
    (LD)    		 Minimum
    distance
    (AU)    		 Minimum
    distance
    (LD)    		 Apparent
    magnitude
    (V)
    Earth1945-09-06 05:5347.160.004421.720.001010.3917.3
    Moon1945-09-06 14:3352.480.005081.980.001030.40–
    Mars1957-10-09 13:555.400.0637124.780.0526720.49–
    Earth1973-09-05 21:420.620.011694.550.010894.2419.3
    Earth1987-01-17 01:020.300.0372414.490.0368614.3422.4
    Earth1991-09-27 05:381.030.0991138.550.0987838.4327.0
    Mars1999-09-22 14:00<0.010.0373914.540.0371214.44–
    Earth2009-12-30 13:100.280.0863433.590.0862233.5426.0
    Moon2014-09-07 08:47<0.010.0008450.3290.0008450.329–
    Earth2014-09-07 18:02<0.010.0002670.1040.0002670.10415.9
    Earth2017-09-11 13:500.150.0386415.030.0385014.9823.3
    Earth2020-09-22 21:240.350.0990838.540.0989338.4826.1
    Earth2039-01-21 23:380.130.0622424.210.0621524.1824.0
    Earth2042-01-27 18:190.100.0632224.590.0631324.5623.6
    Earth2109-09-01 16:270.070.0995938.740.0994538.6924.7
    Earth2112-09-06 21:130.080.022538.760.022418.7221.1
    Moon2115-09-08 19:110.150.005582.170.0053502.08–
    Earth2115-09-08 22:500.170.007853.050.007632.9718.5
    Mars2140-10-13 22:422.850.0715227.820.0547121.28–
    Earth2159-02-02 22:1716.900.0808431.450.0556321.6424.2
    Earth2162-01-19 14:0438.850.0937636.470.0727328.2925.2
    Earth2170-09-19 02:089.120.0741328.840.0670726.0925.1
    Earth2173-09-04 16:521.380.0612323.820.0595023.1523.5

    See also

    References
    1. "MPEC 2014-R23 : 2014 RC". IAU Minor Planet Center. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014. (K14R00C)
    2. "MPEC 2014-R26 : 2014 RC". IAU Minor Planet Center. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
    3. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2014 RC)" (last observation: 7 September 2014; arc: 18 days). Retrieved 4 April 2016.
    4. "Reports of Meteorite Strike in Nicaragua and Update on Asteroid 2014 RC". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
    5. "JPL – Absolute Magnitude". NASA. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
    6. "Date/Time Removed". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
    7. "NASA reports asteroid to pass close, but safely past Earth". clarksvilleonline.com. Clarksville Online. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
    8. Agle, DC; Brown, Dwayne (3 September 2014). "Small Asteroid to Safely Pass Close to Earth Sunday". NASA. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
    9. "2014RC Ephemerides for 7 September 2014". NEODyS (Near Earth Objects – Dynamic Site). Retrieved 5 September 2014.
    10. Horizons output. "Horizon Online Ephemeris System". Retrieved 7 September 2014. ("Ephemeris Type: Elements" PR value)
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