2020 BX12

2020 BX12
Radar images of 2020 BX12 reveal a small, elongated satellite orbiting around the spheroidal asteroid.
2020 BX12 and its satellite imaged by the Arecibo Observatory in February 2020
Discovery [1][2]
Discovered byATLAS-MLO
Discovery siteMauna Loa Obs.
Discovery date27 January 2020
Designations
2020 BX12
A10jUnf [3]
Apollo · PHA · NEO
Orbital characteristics [4]
Epoch 31 May 2020 (JD 2459000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc6.09 yr (2,224 days)
Earliest precovery date5 January 2014
Aphelion2.4437 AU
Perihelion0.7570 AU
1.6004 AU
Eccentricity0.75704
2.02 yr (739.5 d)
34.442°
0° 29m 12.545s / day
Inclination40.067°
132.904°
70.492°
Known satellites1
Earth MOID0.002061 AU
Physical characteristics
>0.165 km[5]
>165 m
<2.8 h[5]
0.3[5]
20.7[6]
20.631±0.396[4]

2020 BX12 is a sub-kilometer binary asteroid, classified as a near-Earth asteroid and potentially hazardous object of the Apollo group. It was discovered on 27 January 2020 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System survey at the Mauna Loa Observatory during its approach to Earth of 0.02915 AU (4.361 million km; 11.34 LD). Radar observations of the asteroid were carried out by the Arecibo Observatory on 4 February 2020, revealing a natural satellite orbiting 360 m (1,180 ft) from the primary body.[5][7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference MPEC-2020-B281 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference MPC-object was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NEO-Exchange was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference johnston was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference NEODyS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference naic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).