2017 BQ6

2017 BQ₆ is a sub-kilometer asteroid on an eccentric orbit, classified as a near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group, approximately 150 meters in diameter. It was discovered on 26 January 2017, by the Space Surveillance Telescope at Lincoln Laboratory's ETS (Atom Site) and passed within 6.6 lunar distances of Earth on 7 February 2017 at 6:36 UT.^[1][2]

2017 BQ₆

Radar image of 2017 BQ6
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered by	Space Surveillance Telescope
Discovery date	Lincoln Lab's ETS
Designations
MPC designation	2017 BQ6
Alternative designations	E2017-C83
Minor planet category	NEO · Apollo · PHA[1]
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 3
Observation arc	130 days
Aphelion	2.9802 AU
Perihelion	0.9133 AU
Semi-major axis	1.9468 AU
Eccentricity	0.5309
Orbital period (sidereal)	2.72 yr (992 days)
Mean anomaly	65.132°
Mean motion	0° 21m 46.08s / day
Inclination	9.0020°
Longitude of ascending node	133.03°
Argument of perihelion	43.562°
Earth MOID	0.0132 AU (5.1 LD)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	0.120±0.027 km[3]
Synodic rotation period	2.150 h[4] 3 h[1]
Geometric albedo	0.13+0.103 −0.057[3]
Spectral type	S (assumed)[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)	21.4[1][4]

Radar imaging

Its closest approach was observed by NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar in California's Mojave Desert, determining it to have a number of angular flat surfaces similar to a polyhedral die.

Goldstone radar images of 2017 BQ₆

Orbit

2017 BQ₆ orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis of 1.95 AU at a distance of 0.9–3.0 AU once every 2 years and 9 months (992 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.53 and an inclination of 9° with respect to the ecliptic. It has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0132 AU (1,970,000 km), which corresponds to 5.1 lunar distances.^[1]

2017 passage across the sky

Physical characteristics

Based on an absolute magnitude of 21.4 and an assumed albedo for stony S-type asteroids of 0.20, 2017 BQ₆ measures 156 meters in diameter.^[4] The body has a rotation period of 2.15 hours and a brightness amplitude of 0.38 magnitude (U=2).^[4]