(159857) 2004 LJ₁, provisional designation 2004 LJ₁, is an asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 3 kilometers in diameter. The asteroid was discovered on 10 June 2004, by astronomers of the LINEAR program at Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States.[2] It is one of the largest potentially hazardous asteroids known to exist.[8]

Orbit and classification

2004 LJ₁ is a member of the dynamical Apollo group,[1][2] which are Earth-crossing asteroids. Apollo asteroids are the largest subgroup of near-Earth objects.

The body orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.9–3.6 AU once every 3 years and 5 months (1,244 days; semi-major axis of 2.26 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.59 and an inclination of 23° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] Its observation arc begins with a precovery from the Digitized Sky Survey taken at the Siding Spring Observatory, Australia, in February 1995, more than 9 years prior to its official discovery observation at Socorro.[2]

Close approaches

With an absolute magnitude of at least 15.4, 2004 LJ₁ is one of the brightest and presumably largest known potentially hazardous asteroid (see PHA-list).[8] It has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0168 AU (2,510,000 km), which translates into 6.5 lunar distances (LD).[1] On 16 November 2038, this asteroid will make its closest near-Earth encounter at a nominal distance of 0.0198 AU (7.7 LD).[1] It is also classified as a Mars-crosser, crossing the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.66 AU.

Physical characteristics

2004 LJ₁ is an assumed stony S-type asteroid.[3]

Rotation period

Three rotational lightcurves of 2004 LJ₁ have been obtained from photometric observations by Johanna Torppa, Adrián Galád and Brian Warner since 2004.[5][6][lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] Lightcurve analysis gave a consolidated rotation period of 2.7247 hours with a brightness amplitude between 0.15 and 0.59 magnitude (U=3).[3]

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, 2004 LJ₁ measures 3.07 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.13.[4] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 2.47 kilometers, based on an absolute magnitude of 15.4.[3]

Numbering and naming

This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 30 June 2007.[9] As of 2018, it has not been named.[2]

Notes

References

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• (159857) 2004 LJ1 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Obs prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Obs info · Close · Physical info · NEOCC
• (159857) 2004 LJ1 at ESA–space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical Properties · Summary
• (159857) 2004 LJ1 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters