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2015 TC₂₅ is a near-Earth asteroid, and at only 6 feet (1.8 meters) across and absolute magnitude 29.34 mag, it is thought to be the third smallest asteroid observed over multiple years, after 2021 GM1 with absolute magnitude 30.4 and 2006 RH120 with absolute magnitude 29.5. The asteroid is notable for reflecting about 60% of the light that hits it, making it one of the brightest near-earth asteroids ever seen.

Discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey on 12 October 2015, it was observed with several ground-based telescopes. Radar observations were also made using the Arecibo Observatory as it passed 128,000 kilometers (80,000 miles) from the Earth. Observations suggest its surface composition is similar to Aubrite meteorites, a rare class of high-albedo differentiated meteorites.

The albedo and radar polarization ratio suggest 2015 TC₂₅ belongs to the E-type asteroids, and comparison of its spectral and dynamical properties suggest it may have broke off of the 70-kilometer diameter E-type asteroid 44 Nysa. 2015 TC₂₅ is also notable for its rather short rotation period of only about 2 minutes, which, combined with its low surface gravity makes it very difficult for 2015 TC₂₅ to retain a regolith layer. Its surface therefore most likely resembles a bare rock.

References

1. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2015 TC25)" (2017-04-25 last obs). Retrieved 11 June 2019.
2. ^ Reddy, Vishnu; Sanchez, Juan A.; Bottke, William F.; Thirouin, Audrey; Rivera-Valentin, Edgard G.; Kelley, Michael S.; Ryan, William; Cloutis, Edward A.; Tegler, Stephen C.; Ryan, Eileen V.; Taylor, Patrick A.; Richardson, James E.; Moskovitz, Nicholas; Le Corre, Lucille (2016). "PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ~2 m DIAMETER NEAR-EARTH ASTEROID 2015 TC25: A POSSIBLE BOULDER FROM E-TYPE ASTEROID (44) NYSA". The Astronomical Journal. 152 (6): 162. arXiv:1612.00113. Bibcode:2016AJ....152..162R. doi:10.3847/0004-6256/152/6/162. S2CID 58907935.
3. ^ Stolte, Daniel (29 November 2016). "It's a Bird … It's a Plane … It's the Tiniest Asteroid!". UA News. University of Arizona. Retrieved 17 February 2017.

External links

• 2015 TC25 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemerides · Observation prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Observational info · Close approaches · Physical info · Orbit animation
• 2015 TC25 at ESA–space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical properties · Summary
• 2015 TC25 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit viewer · Orbit parameters · Physical parameters

• Apollo asteroids
• Minor planet object articles (unnumbered)
• Fast rotating minor planets
• Astronomical objects discovered in 2015