2017 VL₂ is a micro-asteroid, classified as a near-Earth object of the Apollo group. It was first observed by ATLAS at Mauna Loa Observatory on 10 November 2017, a day after it passed inside the orbit of Earth.[2][5]

2017 VL₂

The orbit of 2017 VL2 and positions on 1 January 2018
Discovery[1]
Discovered by	ATLAS
Discovery site	Mauna Loa Obs.
Discovery date	10 November 2017
Designations
MPC designation	2017 VL2
Minor planet category	NEO · Apollo[1][2]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 7
Observation arc	(16 days)
Aphelion	1.5139 AU
Perihelion	0.9466 AU
Semi-major axis	1.2303 AU
Eccentricity	0.2306
Orbital period (sidereal)	1.36 yr (498 days)
Mean anomaly	337.43°
Mean motion	0° 43m 20.28s / day
Inclination	12.091°
Longitude of ascending node	227.05°
Argument of perihelion	139.41°
Earth MOID	0.0012 AU (0.5 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	18 m (est. at 0.20)[3] 6–32 m (estimate)[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)	26.079[1]

Orbit and classification

2017 VL₂ is an Apollo asteroid, the largest subgroup of near-Earth objects. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.9–1.5 AU once every 16 months (498 days; semi-major axis of 1.23 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.23 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic.[1] It is, however, not a Mars-crossing asteroid, as its aphelion of 1.51 AU is less than the orbit of the Red Planet at 1.666 AU.[1]

Close approaches

The object has a minimum orbital intersection distance with Earth of 180,000 km (0.0012 AU), which corresponds to 0.5 lunar distances.[1] On 9 November 2017, it came within 0.31 lunar distances of the Earth (see diagrams).[5]

Path of 2017 VL₂ as it passed inside Earth's orbit on 9 November 2017 (left). The object's path in the sky with 1 hour of motion on 9 November 2017 (right).

Physical characteristics

2017 VL₂ has been estimated to measure between 6 and 32 meters in diameter,[4] comparable to the Chelyabinsk meteor, which was also not observed before it hit the atmosphere over Russia in 2013. For an assumed albedo of 0.20, which is typical for the common S-type asteroids, 2017 VL₂'s diameter would be likely 18 meters only.[3] The size of asteroid 2017 VL2 has been described as that of a whale.[6][7]

As of 2018, no rotational lightcurve of this asteroid has been obtained from photometric observations. The object's rotation period, pole and shape remain unknown.[1][8]

Numbering and naming

This minor planet has not yet been numbered by the Minor Planet Center and remains unnamed.[2]

References

External links

• MPEC 2017-V67 : 2017 VL2 minor planet center
• 2017 VL2 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Obs prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Obs info · Close · Physical info · NEOCC
• 2017 VL2 at ESA–space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical Properties · Summary
• 2017 VL2 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters