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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
05:52
Observation and Analysis of Blinking Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering
Published on: January 11, 2018
Radar and optical observations of asteroid 1998 KY26
1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099, USA. Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, CZ-25165 Ond&rbreve;ejov, Czech Republic. School of Electrical Engineering and.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 27, 1999
Summary
Near-Earth asteroid 1998 KY26 spins exceptionally fast, with a rotation period of only 10.7 minutes. This rapid spin suggests it is a single, solid object, not held together by gravity alone.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Asteroid Research
- Near-Earth Objects
Background:
- Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) are crucial for understanding solar system evolution.
- Rapidly rotating objects provide insights into material strength and formation processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the physical properties of the newly discovered NEA 1998 KY26.
- To investigate the implications of its rapid rotation on its structure and origin.
Main Methods:
- Photometric observations shortly after discovery.
- Analysis of asteroid shape, size, composition, and rotation period.
Main Results:
- NEA 1998 KY26 is a ~30-meter, slightly elongated spheroid.
- Its composition is similar to carbonaceous chondrites.
- It exhibits an unprecedented rotation period of 10.7 minutes.
Conclusions:
- The rapid rotation indicates 1998 KY26 is a monolithic body, not a rubble pile.
- It likely originated as a fragment from a larger asteroid's destruction.
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