2017 TD6

{{Short description|Micro-asteroid}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE: {{mp|2017 TD|6}}}}

{{use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}

{{Infobox planet

| minorplanet = yes

| name = {{mp|2017 TD|6}}

| background = #FFC2E0

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| discovery_ref =

| discoverer = Pan-STARRS

| discovery_site = Haleakala Obs.

| discovered = 11 October 2017
{{small|(first observed only)}}

| mpc_name = {{mp|2017 TD|6}}

| alt_names =

| mp_category = NEO{{·}}Apollo

| orbit_ref =

| epoch = 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)

| uncertainty = 6

| observation_arc = (8 days)

| aphelion = 1.5284 AU

| perihelion = 0.7798 AU

| semimajor = 1.1541 AU

| eccentricity = 0.3243

| period = 1.24 yr (453 days)

| mean_anomaly = 275.44°

| mean_motion = {{Deg2DMS|0.7950|sup=ms}} / day

| inclination = 1.7198°

| asc_node = 26.985°

| arg_peri = 82.738°

| moid = 0.00034 AU{{·}}0.13 LD

| dimensions = 9.9–22 m
11 m {{small|(generic at 0.20)}}

| rotation =

| spectral_type =

| abs_magnitude = 27.162{{·}}27.175

}}

{{mp|2017 TD|6}} is a micro-asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 10–20 meters in diameter. It was first observed by Pan-STARRS at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, on 11 October 2017.

On 19 October 2017, the asteroid transited Earth at a nominal distance of {{convert |0.001278 |AU |km mi |abbr=on |lk=on |sigfig=3 |order=flip}}, which corresponds to 0.5 lunar distances (LD). On the following day it also passed near the Moon at {{convert |0.00075575 |AU |km |abbr=on |lk=off |sigfig=3 |order=flip}}. Peaking near a magnitude of 18, the object was too faint to be seen—except for the largest telescopes.

As of 2018, {{mp|2017 TD|6}} has a poorly determined orbit with an uncertainty of 6 and a short observation arc of 8 days only. Due to its small size, the asteroid is likely to remain unobserved until its next, still relatively distant approach, predicted to occur in March 2044, at a distance of {{convert |0.01358 |AU |km |abbr=on |lk=off |sigfig=3 |order=flip}} or 5.3 LD from Earth.