Contents

2014 RC

2014 RC

2014 RC imaged by the Goldstone Radar on 7 September 2014
Discovery[1][2][3]
Discovered by	CSS
Discovery site	Catalina Stn.
Discovery date	1 September 2014 (first observed only)
Designations
MPC designation	2014 RC
Minor planet category	NEO · Apollo[3][4]
Orbital characteristics[4]
Epoch 1 July 2021 (JD 2459396.5)
Uncertainty parameter3[3][4]
Observation arc	18 days w/Radar
Aphelion	1.8064 AU
Perihelion	0.8211 AU
Semi-major axis	1.3138 AU
Eccentricity	0.3750
Orbital period (sidereal)	1.51 yr (550 d)
Mean anomaly	155.44°
Mean motion	0° 39m 16.2s / day
Inclination	4.5687°
Longitude of ascending node	344.91°
Argument of perihelion	71.090°
Earth MOID	0.0003 AU (0.1169 LD)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	>22 m (largest axis)[5]
Mean diameter	~12–25 m (est.)[6]
Synodic rotation period	0.004389 h (15.80 s)[7][8]
Spectral type	S/q[5][8]
Apparent magnitude	28 (Nov/Dec 2014)
Absolute magnitude (H)	26.8[3][4]

2014 RC is a sub-kilometer near-Earth object and Apollo asteroid. The exceptionally fast rotator passed within 0.000267 AU (39,900 km; 24,800 mi) (0.1 lunar distances) of Earth on 7 September 2014. The asteroid is approximately the diameter of the Chelyabinsk meteor,^[5] and passed almost as close to Earth as 367943 Duende (2012 DA₁₄) did in 2013.

With an absolute magnitude of 26.8,^[4] the asteroid is about 11–25 meters (36–82 ft) in diameter depending on the albedo.^[6] Observations by the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility conclude the asteroid is a fairly bright Sq-class asteroid which have an average albedo of around 0.24, and would give the asteroid a spherical equivalent diameter of 12 meters (39 ft).^[5] Measurements by multiple telescopes indicate that the asteroid rotates in 15.8 seconds making it one of the fastest rotating asteroids so far discovered.^[5][8] Using the 15.8 second rotation period, more accurate radar observations by Goldstone shows the asteroid has a largest axis of at least 22 meters (72 ft).^[5] Due to the asteroid's fast rotation, it is a monolith and not a rubble pile.

On 8 September 2115 the asteroid will pass about 0.0053 AU (790,000 km; 490,000 mi) from the Moon.^[4] On 5 September 1973, the asteroid passed between 0.01052 AU (1,574,000 km; 978,000 mi) and 0.01207 AU (1,806,000 km; 1,122,000 mi) from Earth.^[4] 2014 RC was removed from the JPL Sentry Risk Table on 5 September 2014 and there are no known possible impact dates in the next 100 years.^[9]

It made a close approach to Earth of 0.000267 AU (39,900 km; 24,800 mi) (0.1 LD) around 18:02 UTC on 7 September 2014.^[4][10][11] The asteroid briefly brightened to about apparent magnitude 11.5,^[12] but it was still not visible to the naked eye or common binoculars. At the peak brightness the asteroid had a declination of –47,^[12] and was most easily visible over New Zealand. During 2014, asteroids 2014 AA and 2014 LY21 have come closer to Earth.

Path around the Sun – 3 September 2014.

The Managua explosion on 6 September 2014 may or may not have been created by a bolide that was missed by millions of people, but either way it was not caused by the close approach of 2014 RC.^[5]

During the 2014 Earth close approach the orbital period of 2014 RC was reduced from 600 days to 549 days.^[13] The orbital eccentricity decreased while the orbital inclination increased.

• List of fast rotators (minor planets)

• ASTEROID 2014 RC Tracking
• Close Approach of Asteroid 2014 RC (Remanzacco Observatory)
• Small Asteroid Will Pass Earth Closely but Safely on Sunday (Phil Plait)
• 2014 RCatNeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemerides · Observation prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Observational info · Close approaches · Physical info · Orbit animation
• 2014 RCatESA–space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical properties · Summary
• 2014 RC at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters