4581 Asclepius

4581 Asclepius
Discovery [1]
Discovered by
Discovery sitePalomar Obs.
Discovery date31 March 1989
Designations
(4581) Asclepius
Pronunciation/əˈsklpiəs/[2]
Named after
Asclepius
(Greek mythology)[3]
1989 FC
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 28 May 2014 (JD 2456805.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc27.27 yr (9,959 days)
Aphelion1.3874 AU
Perihelion0.6574 AU
1.0224 AU
Eccentricity0.3570
1.03 yr (378 days)
194.55°
0° 57m 12.24s / day
Inclination4.9190°
180.30°
255.30°
Earth MOID0.0036 AU
Physical characteristics
Dimensions300 m[citation needed]
20.7[1]

4581 Asclepius /əˈsklpiəs/, provisional designation 1989 FC, is a sub-kilometer-sized asteroid, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group that makes close orbital passes with Earth. Discovered on 31 March 1989 by American astronomers Henry Holt and Norman Thomas at Palomar Observatory, Asclepius is named after the Greek god of medicine and healing.[4][3]

Asclepius passed by Earth on 22 March 1989 at a distance of 0.00457 AU (684,000 km; 425,000 mi).[5][6] Although this exceeds the Moon's orbital radius, the close pass received attention at that time. "On the cosmic scale of things, that was a close call", said Dr. Henry Holt.[7] Geophysicists estimate that collision with Asclepius would release energy comparable to the explosion of a 600 megaton atomic bomb.[8] The asteroid was discovered 31 March 1989, nine days after its closest approach to the Earth.[9]

Subsequent discoveries revealed that a whole class of such objects exists. Close approaches by objects the size of Asclepius pass by every two or three years, undetected until the start of computerized near-Earth object searches.

On 24 March 2051, the asteroid will pass 0.0123 AU (1,840,000 km; 1,140,000 mi) from the Earth.[5][6] It will be the eighth pass of less than 30 Gm in this century.[5] JPL shows that the uncertainty region of the asteroid will cause it to most likely pass from 0.02 AU to 0.17 AU from the Earth in 2135.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference springer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MPC-Asclepius was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference jpl-close was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NEODyS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference latimes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gilchrist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Marsden1998 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).