2018 CC is a micro-asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 20 meters (70 ft) in diameter. Its official first observation was made by the Catalina Sky SurveyatMount Lemmon Observatory, Arizona, United States, on 4 February 2018.[1] Two days later, the asteroid crossed the orbit of the Moon and made a very close approach to Earth.[2]
Orbit of 2018 CC
| |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Catalina Sky Srvy. |
| Discovery site | Mount Lemmon Obs. |
| Discovery date | 4 February 2018 (first observed only) |
| Designations | |
| 2018 CC | |
| NEO · Apollo[1][2] | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5) | |
| Uncertainty parameter6[2] ·5[1] | |
| Observation arc | 17 days |
| Aphelion | 1.7323 AU |
| Perihelion | 0.8358 AU |
| 1.2841 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0.3491 |
| 1.46 yr (531 days) | |
| 356.51° | |
| 0° 40m 38.64s / day | |
| Inclination | 8.4577° |
| 317.50° | |
| 245.91° | |
| Earth MOID | 0.0002 AU (0.078 LD) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 15 m (est. at 0.20)[3] 40 m (est. at 0.057)[3] | |
| 26.541[2] | |
2018 CC belongs to the Apollo asteroids, which cross the orbit of Earth. Apollo's are the largest group of near-Earth objects with nearly 10 thousand known members. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.84–1.73 AU once every 18 months (531 days; semi-major axis of 1.28 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.35 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic.[2] With an aphelion of 1.73 AU, it is also a Mars-crosser, as it crosses the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.66 AU.
The body's observation arc begins with its first recorded observation by Pan-STARRS on 20 January 2018.[1]
The object has a low minimum orbital intersection distance with Earth of 29,900 km (0.0002 AU), which corresponds to 0.078 lunar distances (LD). On 8 February 2034, it will approach Earth to a distance of 0.0212 AU (3,170,000 km; 1,970,000 mi) or 8.2 LD.[2]
On 6 February 2018, it passed at a nominal distance of 0.0012640 AU (189,000 km; 117,000 mi) from Earth (0.49 LD). One hour earlier, it passed the Moon at 577,000 km (0.0038564 AU).[2]
The body's physical parameter remain largely unknown.[2] Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, and for an absolute magnitude of 26.541, the asteroid measures 15 and 40 meters in diameter, assuming a carbonaceous and stony albedo of 0.057 and 0.20, respectively.[3] No rotational lightcurve has been obtained from photometric observations, and no rotation period, shape or pole has been determined.[2]
As of 2018, this minor planet has not been numbered or named.[1]
