is a very bright micro-

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

, classified as a

near-Earth object A near-Earth object (NEO) is any small Solar System body whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth. By convention, a Solar System body is a NEO if its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) is less than 1.3 astronomical units (AU). ...

of the

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, less than in diameter. It was first observed by astronomers of the Catalina Sky Survey at

Mount Lemmon Observatory Mount Lemmon Observatory (MLO), also known as the Mount Lemmon Infrared Observatory, is an astronomical observatory located on Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains approximately northeast of Tucson, Arizona (US). The site in the Coronad ...

, Arizona, on 4 February 2018, during its sub-lunar close encounter with Earth.

2018 flyby

On 9 February 2018, the asteroid passed about from Earth, traveling relative to Earth and briefly reaching

apparent magnitude Apparent magnitude () is a measure of the brightness of a star or other astronomical object observed from Earth. An object's apparent magnitude depends on its intrinsic luminosity, its distance from Earth, and any extinction of the object's li ...

13. It was observed by the

Goldstone Observatory The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC), commonly called the Goldstone Observatory, is a satellite ground station located in Fort Irwin in the U.S. state of California. Operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), its main ...

, which constrained its size to no more than 20 meters. During the flyby its period was changed from 1.48 years to 1.67 years.

Flyby gallery

File:2018CB skypath.png, Its path across the sky on February 9 was north to south (30 minute positions shown) File:2018CB earthflyby.png, Seen from space, it passes just outside geosynchronous orbit File:2018 CB Northolt Branch Observatory Feb7 video.gif, 20 minute timelapse, taken two days before closest approach. The asteroid can be seen near the center of the image, moving towards the lower left. Brightness is inverted (stars appear dark, the sky background appears light). File:2018 CB Northolt Branch Observatory Feb7 stack.png, 2018 CB on February 7. The image is corrected for the asteroid's motion, so stars appear trailed.

Other flybys

's orbit is in Earth's neighborhood, so it frequently makes other close approaches to Earth like the 2018 one, although not usually as close. In 1953 (65 years or 44 orbits earlier), it passed from Earth, and in 2090 it will pass between and from Earth. It also may have passed similarly near Earth in 1914, but the uncertainty in the 1953 approach makes it difficult to determine.

Physical characteristics

appears unusually bright for its size, suggesting it is made of brighter materials than the average asteroid.

References

External links

Minor Planet Circular The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Function ...