All About 2020 BX12

2020 BX12 is a sub-kilometer binary asteroid, classified as a near-Earth asteroid and potentially hazardous object of the Apollo group. It was discovered on 27 January 2020, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System survey at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The asteroid was discovered during its close approach to Earth from a nominal distance of 11.35 lunar distances, or approximately 4.36 million km (2.71 million mi). radar observations of the asteroid were carried out, revealing a small natural satellite orbiting 360 m (1,180 ft) from the primary body.[5] The discovery of the satellite was announced by the Arecibo Observatory on 10 February 2020.
2020 BX12 was discovered on 27 January 2020, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The ATLAS survey was designed for detecting near-Earth asteroids on approach to Earth, particularly those that may be considered potentially hazardous under circumstances where they can approach Earth from close distances. 2020 BX12 was identified by a team of astronomers consisting of Larry Denneau, John Tonry, Aren Heinze, and Henry Weiland, who were chiefly involved in the ATLAS project.[1][8] The asteroid was discovered during its approach to Earth, and was at nominal distance of about 0.11 AU (16,000,000 km; 10,000,000 mi) from the planet. At the time of discovery, 2020 BX12 was located in the constellation of Puppis at an apparent magnitude of 17.6.[1][a]
The discovery of 2020 BX12 was subsequently reported to the Minor Planet Center's near-Earth object confirmation page (NEOCP), where a preliminary orbit was calculated from additional observations conducted at multiple observatories.[10] Follow-up observations of 2020 BX12 spanned three days since its discovery, and the asteroid was formally announced in a Minor Planet Electronic Circular issued by the Minor Planet Center on 30 January 2020.

By: Prerana Sharma