1998 KY26#Exploration

{{Short description|Near-Earth asteroid}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{mp|1998 KY|26}}}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox planet

| minorplanet = yes

| name = {{mp|1998 KY|26}}

| background = #FFC2E0

| image = Asteroid 1998 KY26.faces model.jpg

| image_scale =

| caption = Three views of a computer model of {{mp|1998 KY|26}}, derived from radar observations in 1998

| discovery_ref =

| discovered = 28 May 1998
{{nowrap|{{small|(discovery: first observed only)}}}}

| discoverer = Spacewatch
(Tom Gehrels)

| discovery_site = Kitt Peak Obs.

| mpc_name = {{mp|1998 KY|26}}

| alt_names =

| pronounced =

| named_after =

| mp_category = NEO{{·}}Apollo

| orbit_ref =

| epoch = 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5)

| uncertainty = 0

| observation_arc = 22.54 yr (8,231 days)

| aphelion = 1.4819 AU

| perihelion = 0.9840 AU

| semimajor = 1.2329 AU

| eccentricity = 0.20192

| period = 1.37 yr (500.04 days)

| mean_anomaly = 359.504°

| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.71993923|sup=ms}} / day

| inclination = 1.4810°

| asc_node = 84.366°

| arg_peri = 209.378°

| moid = {{cvt|0.002531|AU|LD|lk=out}}

| mean_diameter = {{val|30|ul=m}} {{small|(effective diameter)}}
{{val|20|-|40|u=m}} {{small|(range)}}

| rotation = {{val|0.1782|ul=h}}
0.1784 h

| albedo = {{val|0.12}}
0.124 {{small|(derived)}}

| spectral_type = X
B–R={{val|0.083|0.070}}
V–R={{val|0.058|0.055}}
R–I={{val|0.088|0.053}}

| abs_magnitude = {{val|25.5|0.3}}

}}

{{mp|1998 KY|26}} is a nearly spherical sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group. It measures approximately {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=off|sigfig=1|sp=us}} in diameter and is a fast rotator, having a rotational period of only 10.7 minutes. It was first observed on 2 June 1998, by the Spacewatch survey at Kitt Peak National Observatory during 6 days during which it passed 800,000 kilometers (half a million miles) away from Earth (a little more than twice the Earth–Moon distance).

The object's orbit is well known, since it was recovered in 2002 by the Hawaiian Observatory, and it was most recently observed, from 10 till 15 December 2020, by the Cerro Paranal. La Palma Observatory, and Mauna Kea observatories.

Orbit and classification

{{mp|1998 KY|26}} orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.0–1.5 AU once every 16 months (500 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.20 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic. It has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of approximately {{convert|0.0025|AU|km mi|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}, corresponding to 0.98 lunar distances.

As a result, it is one of the most easily accessible objects in the Solar System,{{Cite web | title = {{mp|1998 KY|26}} | url = http://analyzer.depaul.edu/see_project/orbits/ky26.htm| access-date= 25 April 2009 }} and its orbit frequently brings it on a path very similar to the optimum EarthMars transfer orbit. This, coupled with its high water content, makes it an attractive target for further study and a potential source of water for future missions to Mars.

Physical properties

The physical properties of this object were measured by an international team of astronomers led by Dr. Steven J. Ostro of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory using a radar telescope in California and optical telescopes in the Czech Republic, Hawaii, Arizona and California.

{{mp|1998 KY|26}} is characterized as a potentially metallic X-type asteroid. Optical and radar observations indicate that it is a water-rich object.

From light curve photometry in 1998, the object is measured to have a rotation period of only 10.7 minutes, which was considered to be one of the shortest sidereal days of any known Solar System object at the time; most asteroids with established rotational rates have periods measured in hours. As a result, it cannot possibly be a rubble pile, as many asteroids are thought to be, and must instead be a monolithic object. It was the first such object to be discovered, but since 1998, several other small asteroids have been found to also have short rotation periods, some even faster than {{mp|1998 KY|26}}.

Exploration

File:Animation of Hayabusa2 orbit - extended mission.webm}}{{·}}{{legend2|lime|162173 Ryugu}}{{·}}{{legend2|Royalblue|Earth}}{{·}}{{legend2|yellow|Sun}}{{·}}{{legend2|cyan|98943 Torifune}}{{·}}{{legend2|gold|1998 KY26}}]]

In September 2020, a mission extension for JAXA's Hayabusa2 asteroid sample return probe was selected to do additional flybys of two near-Earth asteroids: 98943 Torifune in July 2026 and a rendezvous with {{mp|1998 KY|26}} in July 2031. The rendezvous with {{mp|1998 KY|26}} will be the first visit of a rapidly rotating micro-asteroid. This will also make 1998 KY26 the smallest object to ever be studied by a spacecraft.{{Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/zlipanov/selected_asteroids/1998ky26/1998ky26.html|title = 1998 Ky26}}

{{clear}}

Further reading

  • {{Cite journal | title = Recovery of 1998 KY26: Implications for Detecting the Yarkovsky Effect (abstract only) | first = D. J. | last = Tholen | date = September 2003 | journal = Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society | volume = 35 | issue = 4 | url = http://aas.org/archives/BAAS/v35n4/dps2003/452.htm | access-date = 25 April 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120214183802/http://aas.org/archives/BAAS/v35n4/dps2003/452.htm | archive-date = 14 February 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web

|type = 2020-12-12 last obs.

|title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (1998 KY26)

|url = http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=3012392

|publisher = Jet Propulsion Laboratory

|accessdate = 1 August 2017}}

{{cite web

|title = 1998 KY26

|work = Minor Planet Center

|url = http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=1998+KY26

|accessdate = 1 August 2017}}

{{Cite web

|title = Spacewatch discovery of {{mp|1998 KY|26}}

|publisher = SPACEWATCH Project

|url = http://spacewatch.lpl.arizona.edu/1998ky26.html

|date = 7 April 2004

|accessdate = 1 August 2017

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100701151236/http://spacewatch.lpl.arizona.edu/1998ky26.html

|archivedate = 1 July 2010}}

{{Cite web

|title = Astronomy Picture of the Day: Asteroid 1998 KY26

|date = 19 September 2002

|publisher = NASA

|url = https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap020919.html

|accessdate = 1 August 2017}}

{{cite web

|title = LCDB Data for (1998 KY26)

|publisher = Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB)

|url = http://www.minorplanet.info/PHP/generateOneAsteroidInfo.php?AstInfo=0%7C1998+KY26

|accessdate = 1 August 2017}}

{{Cite journal

|first1 = M. D. |last1 = Hicks

|first2 = P. R. |last2 = Weissman

|first3 = D. L. |last3 = Rabinowitz

|first4 = A. B. |last4 = Chamberlin

|first5 = B. J. |last5 = Buratti

|first6 = C. O. |last6 = Lee

|date = September 1998

|title = Close Encounters: Observations of the Earth-crossing Asteroids 1998 KY26 and 1998 ML14.

|journal = American Astronomical Society

|volume = 30

|page = 1029

|bibcode = 1998DPS....30.1006H }}

{{Cite journal

|display-authors = 6

|first1 = Steven J. |last1 = Ostro

|first2 = Petr |last2 = Pravec

|first3 = Lance A. M. |last3 = Benner

|first4 = R. Scott |last4 = Hudson

|first5 = Lenka |last5 = Sarounová

|first6 = Michael D. |last6 = Hicks

|first7 = David L. |last7 = Rabinowitz

|first8 = James V. |last8 = Scotti

|first9 = David J. |last9 = Tholen

|first10 = Marek |last10 = Wolf

|first11 = Raymond F. |last11 = Jurgens

|first12 = Michael L. |last12 = Thomas

|first13 = Jon D. |last13 = Giorgini

|first14 = Paul W. |last14 = Chodas

|first15 = Donald K. |last15 = Yeomans

|first16 = Randy |last16 = Rose

|first17 = Robert |last17 = Frye

|first18 = Keith D. |last18 = Rosema

|first19 = Ron |last19 = Winkler

|first20 = Martin A. |last20 = Slade

|date = June 1999

|title = Radar and Optical Observations of Asteroid 1998 KY26

|url = https://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/ostro+1999_ky26_science.pdf

|journal = Science

|volume = 285

|issue = 5427 |pages = 557–559(SciHomepage)

|bibcode = 1999Sci...285..557O

|doi = 10.1126/science.285.5427.557

|pmid = 10417379 }}

{{Cite journal

|first1 = P. |last1 = Pravec

|first2 = L. |last2 = Sarounova

|date = June 1998

|title = 1998 KY26

|journal = IAU Circ.

|issue = 6941

|pages = 2

|bibcode = 1998IAUC.6941....2P }}

{{cite news

|title = Hayabusa2's Mission isn't Over. It has a New Asteroid Target to Visit: 1998 KY26

|url = https://www.universetoday.com/147977/hayabusa2s-mission-isnt-over-it-has-a-new-asteroid-target-to-visit-1998-ky26/

|first = Evan |last = Gough

|work = Universe Today

|date = 25 September 2020

|accessdate = 1 October 2020}}

{{cite web

|title = MPEC 2020-X181 : 1998 KY26

|url = https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K20/K20XI1.html

|work = Minor Planet Electronic Circular

|publisher = Minor Planet Center

|date = 15 December 2020

|accessdate = 16 December 2020}}

}}