| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Catalina Sky Survey |
| Discovery date | 12 October 2015 |
| Designations | |
| 2015 TC25 | |
| Apollo | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch JD 2457607.5 (2016 August 7) | |
| Aphelion | 1.1504 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.9081 AU |
| 1.0292 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.1177 |
| 1.04 yr | |
| 214.2377° | |
| 0° 56m 38.04s / day | |
| Inclination | 3.6383° |
| 19.6544 | |
| 80.5784° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 2 meters (6.6 ft)[2] | |
| 0.03715 h (2.229 min)[1] | |
| E[2] | |
| 29.5 | |
2015 TC25 is a near-Earth asteroid, and at only 6 feet (1.8 meters) across and absolute magnitude 29.34 mag, it is thought to be the third smallest asteroid observed over multiple years, after 2021 GM1 with absolute magnitude 30.4 and 2006 RH120 with absolute magnitude 29.5. The asteroid is notable for reflecting about 60% of the light that hits it, making it one of the brightest near-earth asteroids ever seen.[3]
Discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey on 12 October 2015, it was observed with several ground-based telescopes.[2] Radar observations were also made using the Arecibo Observatory as it passed 128,000 kilometers (80,000 miles) from the Earth.[3] Observations suggest its surface composition is similar to Aubrite meteorites, a rare class of high-albedo differentiated meteorites.[2]
The albedo and radar polarization ratio suggest 2015 TC25 belongs to the E-type asteroids, and comparison of its spectral and dynamical properties suggest it may have broke off of the 70-kilometer diameter E-type asteroid 44 Nysa.[2] 2015 TC25 is also notable for its rather short rotation period of only about 2 minutes, which, combined with its low surface gravity makes it very difficult for 2015 TC25 to retain a regolith layer. Its surface therefore most likely resembles a bare rock.[2]