379E-415-Well Done

Once every 1,435 days, a 780-foot diameter space rock that my Catalyna Sky survey teammate

Carson Fools discovered makes an annihilation, defying close approach to our star.

At its nearest point to the sun, Carson's well-done space rock is traveling at an amazing

93 miles per second and receives 26 times the amount of solar radiation that heats the

surface of the planet Mercury to 800 Fahrenheit.

After Carson first discovered his heat-resistant space rock, traveling towards its next hot

date with the sun, it was observed by telescopes in New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, and England.

These data allowed scientists at the Minor Planet Center to calculate its orbit around

the sun, estimate its size, and give it the name 2017-TC-1.

2017-TC-1 crosses the orbits of Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury, and can come relatively

close to Jupiter on its extremely elliptical path around the sun.

It is possible that in the very distant past, the giant planet Jupiter's pole on 2017-TC-1

centered on its current path around the sun.

In September of 2021, 2017-TC-1 will once again be bright enough for asteroid hunters to

track as it makes another close approach to our sun.

At this time, astronomers will be able to measure the pattern of colors that 2017-TC-1

reflects, which will reveal its surface chemical composition.

Well then, we are left to wonder how it is possible for a space rock to survive on such

a harrowing path.

For travelers in the night, this is Dr. L. Grower.

Go to travelers in the night.org program 415 for more information.