P/2016 BA14 (PanSTARRS) is a near-Earth object and periodic comet of the Jupiter family, that was radar imaged at distance of 2.2 million miles (3.5 million km, or 9 lunar distances) during a flyby of Earth in 2016.[1] This enabled the size of the nucleus to be calculated at about 1 km (0.62 mi) in diameter.[1][2] Four noted aspects to P/2016 BA14 are that it was discovered as an asteroid first, it was much bigger than expected going from perhaps 125 meters to 1000 meters, it was the closest approach by a comet since 1770, and finally, it has a very similar orbit as numbered comet 252P/LINEAR, and may be related to it (e.g. split off of).
![]() Radar images of P/2016 BA14 from its 2016 Earth flyby[1] | |
Discovery | |
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Discovered by | Pan-STARRS |
Discovery date | 22 January 2016 |
Orbital characteristics A | |
Epoch | 12 April 2016 (JD 2457490.5) |
Observation arc | 0.86 yr (313 days) |
Aphelion | 5.036 AU |
Perihelion | 1.000 AU |
Semi-major axis | 3.022 AU |
Eccentricity | 0.6663 |
Orbital period | 5.25 years (1,919 days) |
Inclination | 18.919° |
TJupiter | 2.797 |
Dimensions | 1 km[2] |
Rotation period | 36.6 h |
Comet total magnitude (M1) | 21.3±0.5 |
Comet nuclear magnitude (M2) | 23.1±0.6 |
Last perihelion | 15 March 2016 |
Next perihelion | June 2021 |
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The object had a unique history in that when it was discovered in January 2016 by a Pan-STARRS telescope, it was thought to be an asteroid and went by a provisional minor planet designation 2016 BA14.[3] Astronomer Denis Denisenko noted the body's orbit was very similar to 252P/LINEAR, which led to a follow up observation by the Lowell Discovery Telescope.[3] The body showed a tail, identifying it as a probable comet and then named P/2016 BA14.[3]
The similarity of the orbits of P/2016 BA14 and 252P/LINEAR suggested that P/2016 BA14 may have split off from 252P/LINEAR.[4]
P/2016 BA14 was bigger than predicted when observed by astronomical radar; it was estimated to be perhaps 125 meters but was about 1 km in diameter.[2][1] One reason it was hard to predict its size, is because it reflects about 3% of the light, a very low albedo.[1]
P/2016 BA14 was said to be the closest approach of Earth by a comet since 1770 when Lexell's Comet is calculated to have passed within 1.4 million miles (2.2 million kilometers) of Earth according to Sky & Telescope magazine.[3] The P/2016 BA14 flyby of Earth in 2016 was noted as the third closest approach of a comet to Earth.[5][6] Another close approach by a comet in modern times was Comet IRAS–Araki–Alcock (aka C/1983 H1) in 1983.[7]
After P/2016 BA14's flyby in 2016, it is calculated that is the closest it will be to Earth for at least the next 150 years.[8] P/2016 BA14 was noted as an opportunity to study comets more closely.[8]
Example facts:[3]
P/2016 BA14 was detected by the PS-1 telescope of Pan-STARRS in Hawaii, and it was also observed by the 4.3 meter aperture Discovery Channel Telescope in Arizona.[3] NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) also made observations of P/2016 BA14.[2] NASA's infrared telescope (IRTF) observations revealed that P/2016 BA14 was reflecting only 2-3 percent of visible light.[10]
The observations of P/2016 BA14 with the NASA IRTF gave a diameter estimate of 600 – 1200 meters (0.4 mile and 0.75 mile).[11] The radar observations reported about a kilometer in diameter.[12]
P/2016 BA14 was observed with a radar telescope in California over three days, which revealed various properties including a rotation rate of 35–40 hours along one axis.[10]
Telescopes of Slooh also offered views of P/2016 BA14 and 252P/LINEAR.[13]
Near-Earth comets are much less common than asteroids. As of September 22, 2018[update], according to statistics maintained by CNEOS, 18,837 NEOs were discovered: 107 near-Earth comets and 18,730 near-Earth asteroids. There are 1,929 NEOs that are classified as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs).[14] Comets' typical properties are cause for various issues, including that they typically are very dark (in astronomical speak, they have a low albedo) which can hamper taking accurate measurements; P/2016 BA14 reflected approximately 3% of visible light which is darker than fresh asphalt.[1]
Typical comets have much bigger orbits and have a lot of ice and dust that make their big tails.[15]
There is a known bias towards detecting asteroids that reflect more visible light, and one way around this is try find them with infrared telescopes (i.e. detecting the objects' heat) although this comes with other challenges. There is a bias towards finding asteroids that are easier to detect.[16] To better understand P/2016 BA14 it was observed with a combination of visible-light, infrared, and radar telescopes each with certain observation benefits.[17] Infrared observations of the comet allowed for a determination that P/2016 BA14 was reflecting only 2-3 percent of visible light.[10]
The radar observations during the Earth flyby detected surface features as small as 8 meters, and determined a rotation rate of P/2016 BA14 between 35–40 hours.[10]
Comet 252P/LINEAR had its close approach on March 21, 2016, and coming within 3.3 million miles (5.2 million kilometers) made it the 5th closest approach by a comet according to CNN.[9][6]
NASA is confident that it has discovered and cataloged all near-Earth asteroids large enough to cause significant global damage and determined that they are not on collision courses with Earth, but there is still some chance that large comets from the outer solar system could appear and impact the Earth with warning times as short as a few months
— National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan (2018)[18]
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