Discovery date January 20, 2013 Observation arc 375 days (1.03 yr) Inclination 0.7726189° Mean anomaly 257.52229° | MPC designation 2013 BS45 Discovered 20 January 2013 Argument of perihelion 150.3038° | |
Aphelion 1.0758430 AU (160.94382 Gm) Similar James V Scotti discoveries, Other celestial objects | ||
2013 BS45 (also written 2013 BS45) is a horseshoe companion to the Earth like 3753 Cruithne. Like Cruithne, it does not orbit the Earth and at times it is on the other side of the Sun.
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Discovery, orbit and physical properties
2013 BS45 was discovered by James V. Scotti on January 20, 2013 observing for the Spacewatch project from Kitt Peak (KPNO). Its orbit is characterized by low eccentricity (0.084), low inclination (0.77º) and a semi-major axis of 0.993 AU; it is the most Earth-like among those of asteroids moving in Earth-like orbits. Upon discovery, it was classified as an Aten asteroid but also an Earth crosser by the Minor Planet Center. Its orbit is well determined; as of August 26, 2015 its orbit is based on 96 observations spanning a data-arc of 375 days. 2013 BS45 has an absolute magnitude of 25.9 which gives a characteristic diameter of 30 m. Radar observations indicate that it may be a very rapid rotator with a period of just a few minutes.
Horseshoe companion to the Earth and orbital evolution
Recent calculations indicate that it follows a horseshoe orbit with respect to the Earth. Its orbital evolution is highly chaotic and its orbit is difficult to predict beyond a few thousand years. As for the available data, it had its closest encounter ever with Earth on February 12, 2013 at 0.013 AU, closer than in 1934, the previously closest approach at 0.014 AU. The next approach closer than 0.020 will take place on September 2, 2090, at 0.016 AU. Its orbit matches the expected properties of that of an object in the Arjuna-class.
Origin
It may have been originated within the Venus-Earth-Mars region or in the main asteroid belt like other Near-Earth Objects, then transition to Amor-class asteroid before entering Earth's co-orbital region.