P/2016 G1 (PanSTARRS) was a main-belt asteroid that was destroyed by an impact event on 6 March 2016.[4]
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Robert Weryk Richard Wainscoat |
| Discovery site | Pan-STARRS 1 Haleakala Observatory |
| Discovery date | 1 April 2016 |
| Designations | |
| 2016 G1 | |
| PK16G010[1] | |
| Asteroid belt | |
| Orbital characteristics[2] | |
| Epoch 30 April 2016 (JD 2457508.5) | |
| Observation arc | 198 days |
| Aphelion | 3.126 AU |
| Perihelion | 2.040 AU |
| 2.583 AU | |
| 4.152 years | |
| 295.62° | |
| Inclination | 10.968° |
| 204.07° | |
| 111.28° | |
| Earth MOID | 1.057 AU |
| Physical characteristics[3] | |
| Dimensions | 200–400 m (660–1,310 ft) |
| 16.1 | |
Observational history
It was discovered by Robert Weryk and Richard Wainscoat of the Pan-STARRS 1 survey at Haleakala Observatory. The object was initially thought to be an Encke-type comet because of its diffuse appearance,[5][6] so it received the periodic comet designation P/2016 G1.[2] After further analysis, what had initially appeared to be a comet's halo turned out to be rubble from a collision. By November 2019, analysis suggested the collision had occurred on 6 March 2016, and the asteroid was struck by a smaller object that may have massed only 1.0 kg (2.2 lb), and was traveling at 11,000 mph (18,000 km/h).[7] P/2016 G1's diameter was between 200 m (660 ft) and 400 m (1,300 ft).[3] The asteroid had completely disintegrated by 2017.[3]
Astronomers were able to use the asteroid's rubble to determine the date of the collision, since the dispersion of dust was inversely proportional to its size.[3]
See also
References
External links
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