(467336) 2002 LT38
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered byLINEAR
Discovery siteLincoln Lab's ETS
Discovery date12 June 2002
Designations
(467336) 2002 LT38
2002 LT38
NEO · Aten · PHA[1][2]  
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc14.09 yr (5,148 days)
Aphelion1.1103 AU
Perihelion0.5799 AU
0.8451 AU
Eccentricity0.3138
0.78 yr (284 days)
316.03°
1° 16m 7.32s / day
Inclination6.1959°
259.41°
162.73°
Earth MOID0.0344 AU (13.4 LD)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
0.236 km (calculated)[3]
0.240 km (est. at 0.20)[4]
21.80±0.05 h[5][lower-alpha 1]
0.20 (assumed)[3]
S (assumed)[3]
20.5[1][3]

    (467336) 2002 LT38, is a sub-kilometer asteroid and suspected tumbler, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Aten group, approximately 240 meters (790 ft) in diameter. It was discovered on 12 June 2002, by astronomers of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at the Lincoln Laboratory's Experimental Test Site near Socorro, New Mexico, in the United States.[2]

    Orbit and classification

    2002 LT38 orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.6–1.1 AU once every 9 months (284 days; semi-major axis of 0.85 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.31 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic.[1]

    The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at AMOS on 10 June 2002, two nights prior to its official discovery observation at Lincoln Lab's ETS.[2]

    Close approaches

    2002 LT38 has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0344 AU (5,150,000 km) which corresponds to 13.4 lunar distances.[1] It will pass at that distance during its close encounter with Earth on 27 June 2030.[1]

    Earth Approaches on 24 June 2023 and 27 June 2030[1]
    Date JPL Horizons
    nominal geocentric
    distance (AU)    		 uncertainty
    region
    (3-sigma)
    2023-Jun-24 18:280.04450 AU (6.657 million km)[1]±31 km[6]
    2030-Jun-27 23:130.03447 AU (5.157 million km)[1]±23 km[7]

    Physical characteristics

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

    Rotation period

    In July 2016, a first rotational lightcurve of 2002 LT38 was obtained from photometric observations by American astronomer Brian Warner at his Palmer Divide Station in California (U82). Lightcurve analysis gave a longer-than average rotation period of 21.80 hours with a brightness variation of 1.16 magnitude (U=2+).[5][lower-alpha 1] A high brightness amplitude typically indicates that the body has a non-spherical, elongated shape. It is also a suspected tumbler.[5]

    Diameter and albedo

    The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 0.236 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 20.5.[3]

    Numbering and naming

    This minor planet was numbered by the Minor Planet Center on 21 May 2016, after its orbit determination became sufficiently secure (M.P.C. 100286).[8] As of 2018, it has not been named.[2]

    Notes

    1. 1 2 Lightcurve plot of (467336) 2002 LT38 by Brian Warner, Palmer Divide Station, California (2016). Rotation period 21.80±0.05 hours with a brightness amplitude of 1.16±0.05 mag. Quality Code of 2+. Summary figures at the LCDB. Observers comment: "There may be some indications of tumbling in the lightcurve, for example, the 'break' in the Fourier curve around 0.45 rotation phase".

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 467336 (2002 LT38)" (2016-07-14 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 "467336 (2002 LT38)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "LCDB Data for (467336)". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 23 November 2017.
    4. ↑ "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
    5. 1 2 3 Warner, Brian D. (January 2017). "Near-Earth Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at CS3-Palmer Divide Station: 2016 July-September". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 44 (1): 22–36. Bibcode:2017MPBu...44...22W. ISSN 1052-8091. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
    6. ↑ "Horizons Batch for 2023-06-24 Close Approach". JPL Horizons. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022. RNG_3sigma = uncertainty range in km. (JPL#72/Soln.date: 2021-Apr-14 generates RNG_3sigma = 31 km)
    7. ↑ "Horizons Batch for 2030-06-27 Close Approach". JPL Horizons. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022. RNG_3sigma = uncertainty range in km. (JPL#72/Soln.date: 2021-Apr-14 generates RNG_3sigma = 23 km)
    8. ↑ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
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