(7474) 1992 TC
Encyclopedia
7474 is a moderate sized M-type asteroid
discovered by Robert H. McNaught
in 1992. It is notably one of a few similar M-type asteroids, including the named asteroids 4660 Nereus
and 65803 Didymos
, which can be reached easily by spacecraft from earth. The delta-V
required to reach 7474 (1992 TC) would be about 5.6 km/s, which is less than is needed to reach the moon. M-type asteroids are thought to be composed primarily of nickel and iron, which if proven to be true means that 7474 (1992 TC) may one day become an important source of raw materials in space.
M-type asteroid
M-type asteroids are asteroids of partially known composition; they are moderately bright . Some, but not all, are made of nickel-iron, either pure or mixed with small amounts of stone. These are thought to be pieces of the metallic core of differentiated asteroids that were fragmented by impacts,...
discovered by Robert H. McNaught
Robert H. McNaught
Robert H. McNaught is a Scottish-Australian astronomer at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the Australian National University. He has collaborated with David J. Asher of the Armagh Observatory....
in 1992. It is notably one of a few similar M-type asteroids, including the named asteroids 4660 Nereus
4660 Nereus
4660 Nereus is a small asteroid. It was discovered by Eleanor F. Helin on February 28, 1982, approximately 1 month after a near pass by the Earth. It is named after Nereus, a Titan in Greek mythology.Nereus is potentially a very important asteroid...
and 65803 Didymos
65803 Didymos
65803 Didymos is an Apollo asteroid discovered on April 11, 1996 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak. It has a satellite orbiting it with a period of 11.9 hours, hence the appellation "Didymos", meaning "twin". The primary asteroid is about 800m in diameter, the satellite is about 150m in diameter in an...
, which can be reached easily by spacecraft from earth. The delta-V
Delta-v
In astrodynamics a Δv or delta-v is a scalar which takes units of speed. It is a measure of the amount of "effort" that is needed to change from one trajectory to another by making an orbital maneuver....
required to reach 7474 (1992 TC) would be about 5.6 km/s, which is less than is needed to reach the moon. M-type asteroids are thought to be composed primarily of nickel and iron, which if proven to be true means that 7474 (1992 TC) may one day become an important source of raw materials in space.