The Asteroid 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC I89) a stack of 45-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T07 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC I89) a stack of 15-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T07 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC I89) a stack of 15-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T07 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC I89) a stack of 15-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T07 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

Useful Links:

• Will asteroid 2012 TC4 hit Earth in October 2017?
• Fast Rotation of the NEA 2012 TC4 Indicates a Monolithic Structure by  Polishook, D. in The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 40, No. 1, p. 42-43 (2013)
• Space Situational Awareness(ESA) -- 2012 TC4
• Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site--2012 TC4
• (MPC) Observations --2012 TC4
• JPL Orbit Diagram --2012 TC4
• Close Approach of Asteroid 2012 TC4(Tuesday, October 9, 2012 Remanzacco Observatory, Italy)
• NEO Earth Close Approaches (JPL) (upcoming)
• JPL's NEO Earth Close-Approaches (Between 1900 A.D. and 2200 A.D- limited to encounters with reasonably low uncertainty)
• The Tracking News
• NEO Coordination Centre 
• Speed of Light - Space - Distance Calculator
• Asteroid Hazards: The View from Space(MPC)
• Don’t fear apocalyptic asteroids: you’re safer than you think
• Understanding Risk Pages By Jon Giorgini
• Revised asteroid scale aids understanding of impact risk
• Near Earth, Objects Scale Helps Risk Communication
• Dealing With the Impact Hazard: An International Project
• The Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale
• An Asteroid as Entered the Blogosphere… Should I Be Worried? A commentary by Steven M. Tilley
• International Asteroid Warning Network
• Impact Risk Assessment: An Introduction - Near-Earth Object Program
• Hazardous NEO Technical Reviews
• Frequently Asked Questions For Impact Risk Assessment 
• How to Find an Impact Orbit for the Earth-Asteroid Collision
• The Asteroid/Comet Impact Hazard
• Whom should we call? Data policy for immediate impactors announcements
• NEO Search & Follow-Up
• NEOs' Science pages by Livia Giacomini
• Torino Scale(JPL)
• Find_Orb --- Orbit determination software - Project Pluto
• Guide to Minor Body Astrometry(MPC)
•  Asteroid - Impact Simulator (Impact Earth!) by Purdue University,
• On-line Find_Orb
• 2012 TC4 Planning - JPL radar page
• The 2012 TC4 Observing Campaign  
• Asteroid Flyby to Help NASA Observation
• Astronomical units to Earth radius (AU to RE) 
• The 2012 TC4 Observing Campaign (University of Maryland) 
• The Asteroid 2012 TC4 is Making a Safe Close-Approach on October-12-2017 Please Stand By For a Media Storm

The Asteroid 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01

 

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01 from
Sierra Remote Observatory. Auberry California USA (MPC U69)
a stack of 34-120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01 from
Sierra Remote Observatory. Auberry California USA (MPC U69)
a stack of 15-120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

 

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01 from
Sierra Remote Observatory. Auberry California USA (MPC U69)
a stack of 15-120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01 from
Sierra Remote Observatory. Auberry California USA (MPC U69)
a stack of 15-120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

 Background

(as of 2017-10-01)

•  Object: 2012 TC4
• Orbit Type: Apollo [NEO]
• Approximate Diameter: 12m- 27 m  (39.3701 feet to 88.5827  feet)(Absolute Magnitude: H= 26.7)
• On the Sentry Risk Table:  Yes 
•  NOTE this is NOT a prediction of an impact but rather a statement there is insufficient observational data rule out an impact -- for more information read  Understanding Risk Pages by Jon Giorgini
• Torino Scale 0
• "The likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero. Also applies to small objects such as meteors and bodies that burn up in the atmosphere as well as infrequent meteorite falls that rarely cause damage.."
• On the NEODyS CLOMON2 risk page: Yes
• NEODyS Recovery Campaign: 2017-08-31 to 2017-10-24
• Discovery observation was made: 2012 10 04.467661
• Discovery observation was made by Pan-STARRS 1 (MPC Code F51) The Discovery M.P.E.C.: MPEC 2012-T18 : 2012 TC4
• Last Observation (publish): 2017 09 28.45648 (by the at Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala  (MPC Code F51 ) )
• Data-Arc Span (publish):  1820 days (4.98 years)
• Number of Optical Observations(published):445
• Observatories Reporting (Published) Observations(MPC Code):
• (089) Nikolaev, Ukraine.
• (104) San Marcello Pistoiese,Italy.
•  (113) Drebach, Germany.
• (204) Schiaparelli Observatory,Italy.
• (291) LPL/Spacewatch II, US/Arizona.
• (300) Bisei Spaceguard Center-BATTeRS, Japan. 
• (309) Cerro Paranal, Chile. 
• (461) Szeged University, Piszkéstető Stn. (Konkoly), Hungary. 
• (470) Ceccano, Italy.
• (695) Kitt Peak, US/Arizona. 
• (703) Catalina Sky Survey, US/Arizona. 
• (716) Palmer Divide Observatory, Colorado Springs, US/Colorado.
• (718) Tooele  (N40.641406 W112.295800)  US/Utah.  
• (807) Cerro Tololo Observatory, La Serena,Chile.   
• (857) Iowa Robotic Observatory, Sonoita US/Arizona.
• (900) Moriyama, Japan.
• (932) John J. McCarthy Obs., New Milford, US/Connecticut.
• (B04) OAVdA, Saint-Barthelemy,Italy.  
• (B88) Bigmuskie Observatory, Mombercelli, Italy.
• (C32) Ka-Dar Observatory, TAU Station, Nizhny Arkhyz, Russia.
• (C77) Bernezzo Observatory, Italy.
• (E10) Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South, Australia/NSW.
• (F51) Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala, US/Hawaii.
• (F65) Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North, US/Hawaii.
• (G40) Slooh.com Canary Islands Observatory,Canary Islands (Spain). 
• (G48) Harlingten Research Observatory, Rancho Hildalgo, US/New Mexico.
• (G96) Mt. Lemmon Survey,US/Arizona.  
• (H01) Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Socorro, US/New   Mexico. 
• (H06) iTelescope, Mayhill, US/New   Mexico. 
• (H17) Angel Peaks Observatory,US/Colorado.
• (H21) Astronomical Research Observatory, Westfield, US/Illinois. 
• (H36) Sandlot Observatory, Scranton, US/Kansas.
• (J04) ESA Optical Ground Station, Tenerife, Canary   Islands (Spain).  
• (J16) An Carraig Observatory, Loughinisland,UK.
• (J84) South Observatory, Clanfield,UK.
• (J95) Great Shefford,UK.  
• (T09) Mauna Kea-UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up (Subaru), US/Hawaii.
• (T12) Mauna Kea-UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up (2.24-m),US/Hawaii. 
• (U69) iTelescope SRO Observatory, Auberry, US/California.  
• (W85) Cerro Tololo-LCO A, Chile.
•  Perihelion Distance: 0.9339351095314381(AU)
•  Aphelion Distance:1.877536903700616(AU)
• Earth MOID (Earth center to NEO center):0.000146791 AU (0.057( LD)), (3.446 Earth radii)  or 13,645.076 miles ( 21,959.471 (KM))
• Next Close-Approach to Earth:  Will safely pass Earth on 2017-Oct-12 at a 
• Minimum Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000335152723175429(AU) (0.13(LD)), (7.8697 Earth radii) or 31,154.392 miles (50,138.134(KM)) 
• Nominal Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000335252629744477(AU) (0.13(LD)), ( 7.8720 Earth radii) or 31,163.679 miles ( 50,153.08(KM))
• Maximum Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000335352538623426(AU) (0.13 (LD)), (7.8744 Earth radii) or 31,172.966 miles (50,168.026(KM))   

•  Goldstone Asteroid Schedule: Yes  2017 Oct ( Needs Astrometry: No Physical Observations Yes)

• Useful Links:
  
  • Will asteroid 2012 TC4 hit Earth in October 2017?
  • Fast Rotation of the NEA 2012 TC4 Indicates a Monolithic Structure by  Polishook, D. in The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 40, No. 1, p. 42-43 (2013)
  • Space Situational Awareness(ESA) -- 2012 TC4
  • Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site--2012 TC4
  • (MPC) Observations --2012 TC4
  • JPL Orbit Diagram --2012 TC4
  • Close Approach of Asteroid 2012 TC4(Tuesday, October 9, 2012 Remanzacco Observatory, Italy)
  • NEO Earth Close Approaches (JPL) (upcoming)
  • JPL's NEO Earth Close-Approaches (Between 1900 A.D. and 2200 A.D- limited to encounters with reasonably low uncertainty)
  • The Tracking News
  • NEO Coordination Centre 
  • Speed of Light - Space - Distance Calculator
  • Asteroid Hazards: The View from Space(MPC)
  • Don’t fear apocalyptic asteroids: you’re safer than you think
  • Understanding Risk Pages By Jon Giorgini
  • Revised asteroid scale aids understanding of impact risk
  • Near Earth, Objects Scale Helps Risk Communication
  • Dealing With the Impact Hazard: An International Project
  • The Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale
  • An Asteroid as Entered the Blogosphere… Should I Be Worried? A commentary by Steven M. Tilley
  • International Asteroid Warning Network
  • Impact Risk Assessment: An Introduction - Near-Earth Object Program
  • Hazardous NEO Technical Reviews
  • Frequently Asked Questions For Impact Risk Assessment 
  • How to Find an Impact Orbit for the Earth-Asteroid Collision
  • The Asteroid/Comet Impact Hazard
  • Whom should we call? Data policy for immediate impactors announcements
  • NEO Search & Follow-Up
  • NEOs' Science pages by Livia Giacomini
  • Torino Scale(JPL)
  • Find_Orb --- Orbit determination software - Project Pluto
  • Guide to Minor Body Astrometry(MPC)
  •  Asteroid - Impact Simulator (Impact Earth!) by Purdue University,
  • On-line Find_Orb
  • 2012 TC4 Planning - JPL radar page
  • The 2012 TC4 Observing Campaign  
  • Asteroid Flyby to Help NASA Observation
  • Astronomical units to Earth radius (AU to RE) 
  • The 2012 TC4 Observing Campaign (University of Maryland) 
  • The Asteroid 2012 TC4 is Making a Safe Close-Approach on October-12-2017 Please Stand By For a Media Storm
   

The Asteroid 2012 TC4 Has Been Recovered

his animation depicts the safe flyby of asteroid 2012 TC4 as it passes under

 Earth on Oct. 12, 2017. While scientists cannot yet predict exactly how 

close it will approach, they are certain it will come no closer than 4,200

 miles (6,800 kilometers) from Earth's surface.Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The observers  O. Hainaut, D. Koschny, and M. Micheli using the 8.2-meter VLT (Very Large Telescope)  at Cerro Paranal, Chile(MPC Code 309)   have recovered the asteroid 2012 TC4. The asteroid was observed from 2017 07 27.2465042 to 2017 08 05.39707023 and five observations were taken. The new observations greatly lowers the uncertainty where it will be in the future.

Given the closeness of the October 12, 2017 close approach and the fact that 2012 TC4 is listed on  risk list(for 2020 an beyond) created a buzz on the internet 2012 TC4.  On July 28, 2017 NASA  announced an observation campaign  headed by Dr. Vishnu Reddy. NASA plans to close approach to test their "network of observatories and scientists who work with planetary defense."

Background

(as of 2017-07-06)

•  Object: 2012 TC4
• Orbit Type: Apollo [NEO]
• Approximate Diameter: 12 m - 27 m (  39.3701 feet to 88.5827  feet)(Absolute Magnitude: H= 26.7)
• On the Sentry Risk Table:  Yes 
•  NOTE this is NOT a prediction of an impact but rather a statement there is insufficient observational data rule out an impact -- for more information read  Understanding Risk Pages by Jon Giorgini
• Torino Scale 0
• "The likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero. Also applies to small objects such as meteors and bodies that burn up in the atmosphere as well as infrequent meteorite falls that rarely cause damage.."
• On the NEODyS CLOMON2 risk page: Yes
• NEODyS Recovery Campaign: 2017-08-31 to 2017-10-24
• Discovery observation was made: 2012 10 04.467661
• Discovery observation was made by Pan-STARRS 1 (MPC Code F51) The Discovery M.P.E.C.: MPEC 2012-T18 : 2012 TC4
• Last Observation (publish): 2017 08 05.397070(by the 8.2-meter VLT (Very Large Telescope)  at Cerro Paranal, Chile(MPC Code 309)  )
• Data-Arc Span (publish): 1766 days (4.838  years)
• Number of Optical Observations(published):301
• Observatories Reporting (Published) Observations(MPC Code):
• (089) Nikolaev,  Ukraine.
• (104) San Marcello Pistoiese, Italy.
• (113) Volkssternwarte Drebach, Schoenbrunn, Germany.
• (204) Schiaparelli Observatory, Italy
• (291) LPL/Spacewatch II, US/Arizona.
• (300) Bisei Spaceguard Center-BATTeRS, Japan.
• (309) Cerro Paranal, Chile
• (461) University of Szeged, Piszkesteto Stn (Konkoly), Hungary.
• (470) Ceccano, Italy.
• (568) Mauna Kea, US/Hawaii.
• (695) Kitt Peak, US/Arizona.
• (703) Catalina Sky Survey, US/Arizona.
• (716) Palmer Divide Observatory, Colorado Springs, US/Colorado.
• (718) Tooele, US/Utah.  
• (857) Iowa Robotic Observatory, Sonoita, US/Arizona.
• (900) Moriyama, Japan.
• (932) John J. McCarthy Obs., New Milford,  US/Connecticut.
• (B04) OAVdA, Saint-Barthelemy, Italy. 
• (B88) Bigmuskie Observatory, Mombercelli, Italy.
• (C32) Ka-Dar Observatory, TAU Station, Nizhny Arkhyz, Russia.
• (C77) Bernezzo Observatory, Italy.
• (E10) Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South, Australia/NSW.
• (F51) Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala, US/Hawaii
• (F65) Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North, US/Hawaii.
• (G40) Slooh.com Canary Islands Observatory, Canary Islands (Spain).
• (G48) Doc Greiner Research Obs., Rancho Hildalgo,  US/New Mexico.
• (H06) iTelescope Observatory, Mayhill, US/New Mexico.  
• (H17) Angel Peaks Observatory, US/Colorado.
• (H21) Astronomical Research Observatory, Westfield, US/Illinois.
• (H36) Sandlot Observatory, Scranton, US/Kansas
• (J16) An Carraig Observatory, Loughinisland, UK.
• (J84) South Observatory, Clanfield, UK.
• (J95) Great Shefford, UK.
• Perihelion Distance: 0.9337118172491301(AU)
• Aphelion Distance: 1.877545179495153(AU) 

• Earth MOID (Earth center to NEO center): AU 0.000249707( (0.097 LD)), (5.86 Earth radii)  or  23,211.716 miles ( 37,355.635 (KM))
• Next Close-Approach to Earth:  Will safely pass Earth on 2017-Oct-12 at a 
• Nominal Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000335174413034106(AU) (0.13(LD)), (7.87 Earth radii) or 31,156.408 miles ( 50,141.379 (KM)) 
• Minimum Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000332681020635643(AU) (0.129(LD)), (7.81 Earth radii) or 30,924.633 miles (49,768.372 (KM)) 
• Maximum Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000337670398414312(AU) ( 0.131(LD)), (7.93 Earth radii) or 31,388.424 miles (50,514.773 (KM))   

•  Goldstone Asteroid Schedule: Yes  2017 Oct ( Needs Astrometry: Yes Physical Ob
• Near-Earth Object Human Space Flight Accessible Targets Study (NHATS): Yes

Useful Links:

• Will asteroid 2012 TC4 hit Earth in October 2017?
• Fast Rotation of the NEA 2012 TC4 Indicates a Monolithic Structure by  Polishook, D. in The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 40, No. 1, p. 42-43 (2013)
• Space Situational Awareness(ESA) -- 2012 TC4
• Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site--2012 TC4
• (MPC) Observations --2012 TC4
• JPL Orbit Diagram --2012 TC4
• Close Approach of Asteroid 2012 TC4(Tuesday, October 9, 2012 Remanzacco Observatory, Italy)
• NEO Earth Close Approaches (JPL) (upcoming)
• JPL's NEO Earth Close-Approaches (Between 1900 A.D. and 2200 A.D- limited to encounters with reasonably low uncertainty)
• The Tracking News
• NEO Coordination Centre 
• Speed of Light - Space - Distance Calculator
• Asteroid Hazards: The View from Space(MPC)
• Don’t fear apocalyptic asteroids: you’re safer than you think
• Understanding Risk Pages By Jon Giorgini
• Revised asteroid scale aids understanding of impact risk
• Near Earth, Objects Scale Helps Risk Communication
• Dealing With the Impact Hazard: An International Project
• The Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale
• An Asteroid as Entered the Blogosphere… Should I Be Worried? A commentary by Steven M. Tilley
• International Asteroid Warning Network
• Impact Risk Assessment: An Introduction - Near-Earth Object Program
• Hazardous NEO Technical Reviews
• Frequently Asked Questions For Impact Risk Assessment 
• How to Find an Impact Orbit for the Earth-Asteroid Collision
• The Asteroid/Comet Impact Hazard
• Whom should we call? Data policy for immediate impactors announcements
• NEO Search & Follow-Up
• NEOs' Science pages by Livia Giacomini
• Torino Scale(JPL)
• Find_Orb --- Orbit determination software - Project Pluto
• Guide to Minor Body Astrometry(MPC)
•  Asteroid - Impact Simulator (Impact Earth!) by Purdue University,
• On-line Find_Orb
• 2012 TC4 Planning - JPL radar page
• The 2012 TC4 Observing Campaign  
• Asteroid Flyby to Help NASA Observation
• Astronomical units to Earth radius (AU to RE) 
• The 2012 TC4 Observing Campaign (University of Maryland) 
• The Asteroid 2012 TC4 is Making a Safe Close-Approach on October-12-2017 Please Stand By For a Media Storm